Jake Arthur is thankful a unique education prepared him to play in the NRL after sitting in a coach's box with his father Brad during Parramatta games and learning how to read statistics.
A quiet, gentle personality who is the opposite to his father Brad, the teenager would listen intently, speaking only when spoken to and soaking up the precious knowledge.
Watching NRL games alongside the coach is a learning experience not afforded to many teenagers, let alone those trying to crack first grade.
And after his starring debut for the Eels last weekend, it's clear it wasn't wasted on Jake.
"I learned heaps about what he was thinking about when players do things, and a lot about the momentum of the game," Jake told AAP.
"How important completions are, how kick-finishes can change a game.
"It made it a lot easier to understand how to try and change momentum and what you need to do and how to get it back."
Effort is important to Brad Arthur, but so too is competitiveness.
It's a trait that he has passed on to his son.
Since he was around 13 years old, Jake has been coming to pre-season training with the NRL squad with the intention of pushing the professional players.
More often than not he did, finishing second behind only skipper Clint Gutherson, who is well known as one of the fittest players in the NRL.
"I always try and do my best and compete my hardest. I don't have much size so I have to try and make it up in fitness," the young five-eighth said.
So when Jake finally made his debut and scored a try in Sunday's win against the Warriors, it brought out emotion in Brad that many have never seen.
A touching video of Brad and Jake in a tearful embrace has swept around the NRL, and halfback Mitch Moses said seeing the coach like that has brought the team closer together.
"I've seen him emotional. I've seen him in a lot of ways, but that was a bit different," Moses said.
"I know a couple of the other boys said it almost brought them to tears too the way he spoke about Jakey and how much it meant to his family.
"Not only to his family, but (Brad) sees us as his family as well and he treats every player like it's his own son.
"We can feel that emotion from him. It was a special moment and a special day."
