!["No matter what life throws at you, just keep going" ... Reece Josephson. Picture by Mark Bode "No matter what life throws at you, just keep going" ... Reece Josephson. Picture by Mark Bode](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/931f203f-9358-4f6f-b385-13a484053f7a.jpg/r0_0_2959_2162_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Reece Josephson was at it again.
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Almost a year on from producing a real showstopper, the Cobar kid got another standing ovation.
And once again, it occurred at his homeground - a sun-struck John Simpson Oval at Farrer.
This time, however, the Farrer senior was a year older, 10 kilograms heavier and playing for the Northern Tigers under-18 side.
On Saturday, February 17, Josephson unleashed an explosive and elusive raid in a top-of-the-table Laurie Daley Cup clash against the Central Coast Roosters.
It did not result in a try. But seven minutes later, the gifted fullback broke a tackle inside the Roosters' 20m zone and bamboozled defenders to score.
![Josephson probes for a weakness against the Roosters. Picture by Gareth Gardner Josephson probes for a weakness against the Roosters. Picture by Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/6d827064-9e30-4c62-815a-eaddcf7414e4.jpg/r0_0_1070_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
With his parents and younger brother watching, the double serving of brilliance sparked a Tigers revival that ended when Dylan Keane coolly booted a penalty goal after the full-time siren to secure the Tigers a 26-26 draw against a fellow undefeated side.
"I thought it was a great comeback from us," Josephson said.
Rewind a year, and the Canterbury signing scored three tries in an Andrew Johns Cup win over the Western Rams at John Simpson Oval, including a bewitching long-range solo special.
"Josephson's first two tries saw him, on both occasions, hit the ball hard and run a great line inside the Rams' 20m zone," the Leader wrote at the time.
"But it was his final try that catapulted his performance to next-level status and left him glowing refulgently - a special footballer."
After a recent pre-season training stint with Canterbury's Harold Matthews Cup squad, and with the potential to give his NRL dream a red-hot crack, Josephson said he was "definitely" where he wanted to be.
"I'm pretty happy," the year 11 student said. "Playing footy and just getting through school. It's pretty good - it's pretty chilled."
That was probably the toughest part of my life.
It was a different scenario when the youngster left his hometown of Cobar to board at Farrer in year 7. He had arrived there not knowing a soul.
"That was probably the toughest part of my life - just getting through the first five or seven weeks." he said.
Now, Josephson exudes a quiet confidence and a steely resolve: "No matter what life throws at you, just keep going."