Dragons prop Mike Cooper says being present for the birth of his first child trumps any game of rugby league - even one against former club Warrington.
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The Dragons will travel to England following the Charity Shield for a February 20 clash with Warrington as part of the expanded World Club Challenge.
The match would have been special for the Warrington born 26-year-old, who played his entire 122-game Super League career with the Wolves before linking with the Dragons last year. But with partner Katie expected to give birth in early March, Cooper won't be on the plane.
"There's a chance it could come early and if she went into labour and I was over there I'd never forgive myself," Cooper said.
"It was a no-brainer really. She'd be out here on her own and that's not something I was going to risk, missing the birth, for a game of rugby league.
"I'm gutted in a way because that one game [against Warrington] was one I really wanted to play but family always comes first."
Becoming a first-time father will cap a memorable 12 months for Cooper, who came to Australia with the goal of playing one NRL game but played in all but one of the Dragons' matches in his debut year. Fatherhood has a habit of lifting players to new levels on the paddock and Cooper hopes that will be the case for him as he enters his second season in the NRL.
"As soon as you find out you're going to be a dad you do feel a little bit different about things," he said.
"You make different decision as you go through your life. From now on everything's about the family.
"It's funny how it all turns out, having a baby over here in Australia.
"Twelve months ago we'd never have thought any of this would be happening ... so it's exciting."
Cooper also earned his first call up to International duty in 2014 as part of the England Four Nations squad. While he's still waiting for his first Test cap, he said the experience of being in camp was valuable.
"When you get picked it's a huge honour and then you want to push yourself and get to that next level and unfortunately I didn't get that opportunity," he said.
"That was a bit disappointing but I still enjoyed it and was proud of myself for getting picked.
He said he got to learn off some of the senior people there. It also left him in no doubt where his first child's national allegiances will lie.
"He'll be born here and he'll have an Australian birth certificate but as far as I'm concerned he'll be English," he said.
