Denan Kemp has already settled one score on his return to first grade. Now the Brisbane Broncos wing hopes to prove another point against the National Rugby League (NRL) club which had him pining for home.
Kemp renews acquaintances with former New Zealand Warriors teammates in Brisbane on Sunday, a reunion that will not rekindle many fond memories for the 22-year-old.
Had his move across to Auckland last season panned out more positively, Kemp might still have been playing alongside another former Bronco Brent Tate in Warriors colours.
But after just 10 appearances and a solitary try one of 2009's high profile arrivals at Mt Smart Stadium was desperate to return to the Broncos where he had earlier made such a favourable impression the Warriors tabled him a two-year deal.
Kemp played in nine of the Warriors' first 10 matches but was then exiled to reserve grade apart from a fleeting comeback against the Broncos on July 3.
Six weeks later Kemp was granted an early release when it became clear rookie Kevin Locke was an automatic choice and Manu Vatuvei was an immovable object on the other wing.
Fortunately the Broncos welcomed him back and although a knee injury disrupted his pre-season the speedster made an emotional return to Suncorp Stadium in round one.
Kemp scorched down the right hand touchline to dive over for the matchwinning try against North Queensland, the only opposition he managed to score against as a Warrior, to already match last season's tally.
Springing to his feet, Kemp punched the Broncos emblem on his jersey, a sign where his allegiance always lay.
"There was a lot of emotion there. It'd been a while since I'd played first grade. It was a longish road to get back there with the Broncos."
Kemp's 19 tries in the 2008 season piqued the Warriors' interest but those finishing exploits appeared a mirage once he relocated to the heavier fields of Auckland.
He was rarely afforded any space at the end of a struggling Warriors backline and his play and confidence suffered accordingly.
Already Kemp is thriving outside Kangaroos centre Israel Folau on the right flank while Queensland legend Darren Lockyer is without peer as a playmaker at five-eighth.
Kemp would not blame his teammates for contributing to his frustrating season in Auckland but was clearly more comfortable in his original environment.
"It's a different style of play, a different team. It just didn't seem to work for me in Auckland," he said.
"Israel is a great guy to play outside of. We're starting to build a combination -- hopefully me, him and Locky (Lockyer) can build something special."
A try on Sunday would also be a special moment for Kemp, who is still in the process of rebuilding his reputation.
"People question your ability but I knew if I worked hard when I got back at the Broncos I knew I could get back to the form of 2008," he said, adding his stint with the Warriors was not a total waste.
"I believe it's only a mistake if you don't learn from it. I learned a lot in Auckland and from the Warriors."
Despite a new-found confidence, Kemp faces a daunting task in marking Vatuvei, the competition's leading tryscorer.
He scored twice against the Gold Coast and a notched treble last weekend when Cronulla visited Auckland, terrorising former Kiwis wing Luke Covell.
Vatuvei is also providing plenty of go forward having logged 322m in the two opening rounds.
"He's an imposing opponent," said Kemp, who is 25kg lighter than Vatuvei.
"He's the last person you want to mark but I have to get the job done.
"Before I went to the Warriors I knew he was a great player but I didn't really know the specifics of how good he was," Kemp said.
"Training with him, I saw for such a big guy he's got great footwork, he's decent under the high ball, he works hard and he's unbelievably strong."
