Pre-season shuttle runs have never hurt this much for Ali Lauitiiti.
At 36, Lauitiiti is the NRL's oldest player -- back after more than a decade playing Super League to end his playing career where it started with one final season at Mount Smart.
There are some familiar faces like former teammate Stacey Jones but much has changed.
"New facilities, it's pretty much a whole new club. It feels new to me to me. It's good to experience this," Lauitiiti said.
Fourteen years ago, Lauitiiti's explosive running and incredible handling skills made him the toast of the Warriors.
"You're sort of star-struck because he was the Michael Jordan of rugby league when I was at intermediate," Warriors youngster Ben Henry said.
Injury slowed the golden run but it was lack of passion which stopped it cold, leading to an ugly showdown with the club's former boss Mick Watson.
"I hurt him and that was the outcome. I said something that hurt him bad," Lauitiiti said.
And with that the 115-game veteran was dropped and escorted off the premises.
"It's always tough, when you're escorted off the premises and all that," he said.
"I think they did me a favour, it was a blessing in disguise. I enjoyed my time in the United Kingdom, it was good for me and my family."
All is now forgiven and maybe forgotten.
"Some of these players don't even know who he was back then. Ali's of my vintage and no one knows that I played either," Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said.
There's no doubt McFadden remembers what Lauitiiti was -- now he has to prove he still is.
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