TOGETHER, Josh Papalii and Anthony Milford have grown up, shared a home, trained, played, prayed, laughed and cried.
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Next, they hope to represent.
The Canberra Raiders duo have expressed their joint desire to play for Samoa at this year's World Cup, as a tribute to their families and their friend, North Queensland Cowboys player Alex Elisala, who took his life last month at the age of 20.
The pair grew up with Elisala, a Samoan representative player, in Brisbane's tough south-east.
They were there at his funeral.
''All of us were crying before we got to the funeral, we ran out of tears,'' Papalii says.
''The passing of my close mate was pretty hard in my life. He was someone I grew up with and the next day he's gone.
''But I'm not going to let that bring me down, it will encourage me to be a better player and better person. And to help other youngsters going through the same things.
''To play for Samoa is more than playing for your country, it's about playing for the kids who don't even get an opportunity.''
When Papalii controversially decided last year his representative allegiance would be with Queensland and Australia, instead of New Zealand, he said the choice was made from the heart.
It's for that reason he wants to play for Samoa at this year's World Cup, given he is unlikely to be selected for the Kangaroos.
Milford, only 18, and just three games into his NRL career, wants to play beside him in the royal blue jersey.
Milford has also elected Queensland and Australia as his representative priority, despite being eligible for New Zealand, too.
But, like Papalii, his parents are both Samoan. He recently received calls from Samoan coach Steve Price and mentor Nigel Vagana about representing the island nation.
''I was always first and foremost a Queenslander, I played all my rep footy in Queensland, I was born in Queensland,'' Milford says.
''But one of my other dreams and goals is to play for Samoa.''
Driving the ambitions of Papalii and Milford is that Elisala made his debut for Samoa last month, just days before his death.
Both attended the match, Papalii as a spectator and Milford in the preceding under-20s game for Queensland.
''Just listening to the [Samoan] anthem hit me and watching them do the haka, unreal, I just want to be part of it,'' Milford said.
''To represent family is a massive honour and I'd love to do it. I'd put my hand up if I got the chance [to play for Samoa], and hopefully play alongside Papa.''
Papalii, now 21, suffered from homesickness in Canberra, before moving his entire family to the nation's capital last year.
Milford considered quitting Canberra too, because of homesickness, until he moved in with the Papalii family last year.
The exciting young halfback, who led the Raiders to the under-18 and under-20 grand finals in 2012, has since made his NRL debut and has re-signed with Canberra until the end of 2014.
''Any guys that move away from home, it does get hard,'' Papalii said. ''I guess I was just there at the right place at the right time.''
The Papalii family speak Samoan at home.
They attend church and Papalii, a youth leader, conducts bible studies every week.
Papalii says his family and his faith are ''bigger than rugby league''.
Papalii's father, Patrick, took the former Brisbane boys through punishing pre-season training regimes to keep them motivated.
Most were followed with kava, the traditional sedative drink of Polynesian culture.
''They treat me like family,'' Milford says of the Papaliis.
''I was going to their Christian church every Sunday.
''Off the field I'm always at his house, playing ping-pong or drinking kava.
''It relaxes us and it's a good way of recovery. We usually have it after really tough sessions, whether it's here [at the Raiders] or training with Papa's dad.
''All the boys who did the training were the Brisbane boys, it helped us focus on the reason why we're in Canberra, kept us level-headed and humble.
''It was always going to be hard [coming to Canberra], especially being a mamma's boy. That was tough, leaving mum and dad, but you've got to make that sacrifice to pursue a dream.
''Hopefully it works out. Fingers crossed I can try and get my family down here to Canberra. Especially having a little sister, I want to be part of her life as much as I can.
''I was real homesick, but staying with Papa's family helped me get over it.
''I'm not looking back on the decision, I'm happy.''
