Josh King has a great affinity with the coal mining industry.
When he made his NRL debut for the Knights back in 2016, he did it while juggling an electrical apprenticeship at Bulga Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley and a TAFE course.
His determination to finish his trade at the same time as trying to establish himself in a fully professional sport typifies his character.
To paint a picture back then, in just his fourth top-grade game for the club, a Monday night clash at home against Parramatta, King was out of bed at 5.30am and at work by 7 before knocking off at 1pm to get home for a bite to eat before getting to Newcastle to prepare to play that night.
The following day, while teammates were recovering, nursing bumps and bruises following a loss to the Eels, King was back at work in the mine, churning through a 12-hour shift to make up for leaving early the previous day.
With a work ethic like that and a willingness to make whatever sacrifice is necessary, it's little wonder the 26-year-old front-rower is one of the most respected figures at the club among the playing group and staff.
But at a time when it may not be fashionable to be a supporter, his appreciation for the mining industry hasn't waned and he understands more than most the significance of Sunday's Voice for Mining Round clash against St George Illawarra.
"Yeah definitely, it's always a big one for me," he said.
I've got a lot of mates and family, people who I'm fairly close with, who all work in the mines so yeah, it's close to home for me.
Josh King
"Coming from Singleton and having done my apprenticeship in the mines, it means that little bit more to me and I'm always excited to wear the bright orange jersey knowing that Mining NSW is supporting the club."
While coal mining may be on the nose politically with many people concerned about the environment and global warming, King's association is personal.
"I've got a lot of mates and family, people who I'm fairly close with, who all work in the mines so yeah, it's close to home for me," he said.
"It definitely provides a lot of jobs up there in the Upper Hunter and supports a lot of families. Even down this way, there are so many businesses and industries that benefit from the mines.
"I don't want to get into the politics of it all but I definitely think for a long time to come, mines will be relevant. I still think we have a lot of coal to be mined as well but who knows what will happen in the future with how fast technology is advancing."
King, who has come off the bench for the Knights in the opening three rounds and again on Sunday, admits there was a period in the off-season when he was unsigned that he thought he might have re-join the workforce.
"It was definitely in the back of my mind that if I wasn't playing footy, I could potentially find my way back there," he said.
"That's the beauty I guess of having my trade - that I've always got something to fall back on. It probably made that period of uncertainty over my playing future bearable when I wasn't playing during COVID last season and when I didn't have a contract in the off-season.
"I knew that if worse came to worse, I could go back to the mines and still make a comfortable living.
"As much as I love my footy and absolutely want to take it as far as I possible can, it's comforting to know I've got that to fall back on and I'm really glad I stuck at it and got my apprenticeship finished."
In the meantime though, he is concentrating on doing his best for the Knights from week to week and only pulling the tools out when called on by friends or teammates.
"I do a bit for myself and it comes in handy at times when any of the boys have something going wrong at home," he said. "I was around at Connor's [Watson] place the other day wiring up a sauna."
And his hourly rate?
"Nah, they're for the boys. Love jobs, mate," he says.
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