Kiwi Ferns fullback Apii Nicholls is proof that a full cup helps bring out the best in a footballer.
The Warriors' best in the NRLW this season, Nicholls will on Sunday help lead New Zealand's charge against a red-hot Australia in the Pacific Cup.
There watching at Eden Park will be her two boys, four-year-old Felix and 13-year-old Siona.
For the two years prior to this one, Nicholls played her rugby league in the most difficult circumstances, with no Warriors in the NRLW.
After taking time out of the sport she returned with Canberra, forced to play with Felix with her in Australia and Siona back across the Tasman because of school.
"It was challenging, very tough," Nicholls told AAP.
"I'm certainly thankful for video calls.
"Throughout the whole four or five months I was in Canberra, he would only travel the once to spend some time with me - and that was just during school holidays.
"But coming back this year, I was able to see how grateful he was for me to be back, spending more time with him.
"I really love just having him there and seeing him after the game, just seeing how proud he is. I don't actually see that when I am across the ditch."
It's no surprise then that one of the best years of Nicholls' career has coincided with her return home to the Warriors on their readmission to the competition.
"Having your cup full, it just helps you reset and come out stronger," Nicholls said.
"It makes me proud just being home and I get to share that with him here and get to have him involved more in our Warriors space.
"He gets to express how he's actually feeling about what I'm doing out there. With Canberra, he didn't get to see it, to feel it or be in that environment.
"It was a big eye-opener for me too just being able to be present to teach him, because he wants to get into this space in the future."
On the field, Nicholls' game has also evolved since she last faced the Jillaroos last year.
With Ronald Griffiths taking charge of the Warriors, the 32-year-old's attacking game has improved at fullback, and she's also settled into the idea of leadership.
"In the past few years I was kind of doing the same thing over and over again and there was nothing different about my game," Nicholls said.
"Ron's seen potential in some things that I've done and he's given me those opportunities to take it.
"I've slowly added things to my game, which is just the starting point.
"I'm excited for it because I've wanted it so bad.
"But I haven't actually had someone give me that opportunity to grow my attacking game, because I feel like I've just always been really focused on defence."
