The year 13 Kavanagh College pupil initially was not going to trial for the Southern United youth team.
After being convinced to by his coach, the defender not only made the team, but worked his way into the senior national league squad.
That was a pretty big achievement in itself.
It went a step further when he made his debut as a 16-year-old against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves at Sunnyvale Park.
''I think I went well,'' the now 17-year-old said.
''We didn't concede while I was on, so that was good.
''We ended up winning the game 4-0 so I was happy with my debut.
''I made a couple of good tackles, it was a good start.''
It had been a big step up, the quality of play being higher than anything he had experienced prior to that.
Indeed it had been his first taste of senior football, previously having only played at youth level.
Included in that was a trip to Northern Ireland last year where he played for Otago in the Super Cup - previously the Milk Cup.
At the moment he was keeping busy with the Green Island first team.
He has played for the club since the age of five, although it was his first year with the premier side and he was enjoying the challenge.
The side was among the mix to qualify for the new South Island Premier League and claimed an impressive 4-3 win over Caversham in the Chatham Cup earlier this month.
He hoped to return to Northern Island for the Super Cup again this year, with a goal to captain the team.
Getting another chance with the Southern United team would also be nice, he said.
However, he was more focused on working hard and getting better, knowing the coaches would pick him if he was ready and good enough.
That would help him on the pathway to achieve his long-term goal, although he felt he would likely have to move away at some point.
''My ultimate goal would probably be to represent New Zealand, that would be incredible.
''I feel I'd like to move north one day and see how high I could actually get.
''But that would be my goal, to reach as high as possible.''
He was unsure what he would do next year.
If in Dunedin he hoped to study at the University of Otago's School of Physical Education, with an interest in sports psychology.
