Oliver Gildart still very much has the best years of his career ahead of him.
But even now at the age of 24, Gildart already has scars to show from the early years of his rugby league career.
The centre missed almost a year of action last season as he recovered from a shoulder injury picked up while touring with Great Britain at the end of 2019.
Gildart dislocated his shoulder and ultimately was forced to endure a lengthy spell on the sidelines as a result.
Though his return to the field was a success, the challenge of maintaining the injury remains, and will do for the rest of his career.
"It's something I'll have to deal with throughout my career now," he told Rugby League Live.
"It doesn't just go away, it's a little reminder and having spoken to other lads who've had the same injury, they've said the key is to keep on top of it.
"It does get stiff and sore in contact sessions or after games. It does get tender, but I've just got to ice it and get treatment on it all the time."
The positive is that the injury should never reoccur.
"It shouldn't happen again really with the surgery I had.
"They cut something out then pin it and screw it. The percentage is very small. The only thing is that if I do it again, it will be pretty bad and the surgeon said they'll have to take something off my hip.
"You do doubt yourself going into games but we have great physio staff."
