Flashback, Sisa Waqa (2008)

In the lead up to Sunday's blockbuster grand final, we take a look back at some of the players before they got to where they are now

PHOTO - Carlos Furtado

Pictured here in 2008, Sisa Waqa had just made the switch from Union to League, after signing a two year deal with the Sydney Roosters. Waqa was playing for Gordon RFC in the Shute Shield, where he scored 26 tries in 18 games.

Born and raised in Fiji, Waqa represented the Fijian schoolboys, under-19s, under-21s and Fiji A in Union before moving to Australia.

Waqa would play 7 games in 2 years for the Tri-colours before signing with French rugby club Montauban. The deal fell through and Waqa spent the 2010 season playing locally in Sydney. Then, in true Craig Bellamy fashion, the Melbourne coach through the flying Fijian a lifeline.

Since joining the Storm last year, Waqa has found a home in Melbourne and on Sunday he'll play in his first NRL grand final.

Before the NRL, Sandor Earl

PHOTO - Big League

Before he was scoring tries and helping Canberra surge into the finals, Sandor Earl was just your average 14 year old kid, chasing a league dream. One week in 2004, he was named Big League's Junior Player of the Week.

Earl, who made his debut for the Roosters, rejuvenated his career in 2012 when he switched from Penrith to Canberra mid-season.