RISING Giants star Thomas Hemingway is hoping to mark a momentous week by moving a step closer to a full senior debut in Super League X.
The top Academy international celebrated his 18th birthday on Monday by signing in for the start of pre-season training.
And as far as the talented goalkicking stand-off was concerned, that was the perfect birthday.
"Seeing as it was my 18th on Monday, I suppose I may have been excused training if I'd asked," said the former RFL national camp top gun.
"But there was no way I was going to miss out on the first day of pre-season training.
"From a very early age I've always dreamed of the day when I would be checking in for training as a full-time rugby league player, and this was the first time.
"And I also don't want to miss any of the sessions because I'm desperate to get my chance in Super League as quickly as possible.
"I've gained representative honours in the past and that's great.
"But they are stepping stones towards my ultimate aim of playing in Super League.
"Now I've got a chance."
Hemingway has already gained a great deal of recognition at a national level.
During his time as a junior playing for Dewsbury Moor, he played for Yorkshire, England Schools, England Combined Youth and has been a regular on the RFL's national elite training camps for a number of years.
As a result, he is rated as the best half-back for his age group in the country.
"That means nothing now," he admitted.
"I'm obviously pleased with what I've achieved so far, but I know I've still got a fair way to go to fulfil my ambition.
"Training in the full-time environment, with top-quality coaches and being able to learn off top-quality players is bound to do me no harm.
"It's up to me to make the most of this chance and prove that I do have what it takes to compete at the very highest level.
"I'm absolutely loving it here and I'm delighted the club have had the faith in me to offer me this deal.
"It's now up to me to repay that faith by working as hard as I can to do the very best for Huddersfield Giants."
Hemingway and his teammates were hitting the hills above Huddersfield yesterday as pre-season training intensified.
This followed on from the strength and speed tests undertaken earlier in the week by the club's new Head of Athletic Performance, Geoff Evans.
