New Wests Tigers recruit Moses Mbye knows that when he runs out at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday alongside Robbie Farah, they'll both be incredibly excited.
With a full house and a sunny Sunday afternoon expected for the club's must-win game, the emotions and feeling of the day will certainly be pretty special for both players, and the team as a whole.
Yet for Mbye and Farah, their previous experiences of the ground couldn't be more different if they tried.
For Farah, the connection to Leichhardt Oval is obvious — a Leichhardt junior who grew up playing on the ground as a kid, before making his first-grade debut for Wests Tigers there back in 2003. Since then, there's been a slew of thrilling finishes and stirring victories from his 36 appearances there in Wests Tigers colours, with number 37 set to come this Sunday afternoon when he takes on the Gold Coast Titans.
Yet for Mbye, the contrast to Farah is stark, with the 24-year-old yet experience the iconic suburban ground at the NRL level — not even as a visitor with the locals heckling him on the hill.
Game Day Film: Leichhardt
One thing Mbye does know, however, is how special suburban grounds can be for a club and team.
After playing his final game for the Bulldogs at a similarly iconic venue in Belmore Sports Ground, Mbye spoke glowingly about his excitement to experience the Inner West venue for the first time this Sunday.
"Everyone knows how iconic Leichhardt Oval is to this club," Mbye said.
"When you think about Wests Tigers you just think about those two suburban grounds [Leichhardt and Campbelltown] and it's something special that I get to make my debut for the club at one of them.
"I've never had the chance to play at Leichhardt Oval before.
"I played there once in an SG Ball game and we got a bit of a hiding there so it showed even then how much it means to a side to play there and be a part of the passion that comes with the ground.
"So for me, I'm really looking forward to playing there and learning the history of it.
"Hopefully we can deliver a good performance too and make it a special afternoon."
