Unless you are Matt Prior.

Football held little appeal for Prior as a four-and-a-half-year-old. However, he didn't have any say in the matter.

"When I was younger I didn't really want to play," Prior said.

"My mum encouraged me, she said I had to play some sort of sport, that was the rule.

"The town I come from, Thirroul, is mainly a rugby league town. At stages I didn't really want to play, but had to. I grew up on the coast and there would be times I'd rather surf than play footy."

Prior's mother, Christine, would have none of it. The single mother of three boys deserves the credit for not only steering Prior towards a game he now loves but also for having the most profound effect on his life.

"She's been a massive influence on me," Prior said. "Not so much the footy side but the part away from footy.

"I could eat so much food and she'd always done whatever she has to help me out when I was young. She was cooking for me all the time, I can't thank her enough for that.

"She would give me money, a car, whatever I needed. She was always there to let me go after my dreams."

Prior has already achieved one of his. The prop, perhaps the most improved player in the game this season, has already tasted premiership success with St George Illawarra. He sees parallels between that side and his current one, Cronulla.

"Definitely the closeness of the group, the main similarity is how close everyone is and how well they get on," he said.

"Everyone cares about each other and don't want to let each other down. That's one of the big things."

An example of the bond between the Sharks is the fact more than a dozen of them went out and got their motorbike licences during the pre-season. Sharks players zipping around the Shire on two wheels or motorised scooters – led by Prior and fellow forward Luke Lewis – has been commonplace in 2016.

"In the pre-season [the club] organised for us to do it," Prior said. "There's a few of us that ride our scooters to training every day. That course was great to do together and we go for rides every now and then. We'll get together and go for a coffee and it's been really fun."

Prior has made 176 NRL appearances for the Dragons and Sharks but is only now imposing himself as one of the game's dominant prop forwards. The biggest change is his work ethic. There is no longer such a thing as a rest day.

"Every day off I have I look to do something extra," he said. "Some cardio, some extra weights. That's helping my game, when I'm out there I feel I've got a bit extra to give."

The 29-year-old's sole representative appearance was for Country in 2011. However, Prior is making a strong case for higher honours after a series of dominant displays late in the season. That is a strong motivator, as is the chance to win a premiership at two clubs.

"I'd love to do that," he said. "It would be awesome, especially once I finish my career and look back. To have two premiership rings would be so good, if it happens."