After two years living and breathing rugby, James Perrett could be excused for wanting to enjoy being a spectator for a little while.
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But his feet had barely touched Australian soil and he found himself pulling on a Red Devils jersey again.
Not that the Gunnedah native is complaining.
"It feels good to be home and back in a Red Devils jersey," Perrett said after Saturday's 24-nil win over Walcha.
He played his first game for the Red Devils in almost five years against Quirindi three weeks ago, coming off the bench in second grade.
He thought that is probably where he would stay but a few injuries in the backs saw him thrown into first grade against the Rams last week.
Starting at fullback, Perrett scored the Red Devils' opening try and made some crucial tackles as they upset the competition leaders to keep their finals hopes alive.
Currently fourth, one point clear of premiers Pirates, the equation for the Red Devils to play finals is simple - win their last two games against Barraba (this Saturday) and Scone with a bonus point and they are in.
What further role Perrett plays he's not sure, but he's hoping the Red Devils can make the four.
He has spent the last two years in the UK working as a youth development officer for Scarborough Rugby Club.
"It was an amazing two years. I can't fault any minute of it," he said.
"The club I was at, Scarborough rugby, was absolutely amazing, the best facilities in rugby I saw over there outside of premiership rugby."
"(And) The town and support of the club was unreal".
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It was a very satisfying couple of years with Perrett witnessing an explosion in junior numbers, to the extent that the club have now changed the role he was in.
"They've changed it to more coach development, because they've expanded so much in the juniors that they don't necessarily have to promote and try to recruit kids to play any more," he said.
"They started the program just over 10 years before I got there, and it's been building and building."
At last count there were over 380 under-18 players registered.
The club were keen for him to stay on and help implement the coach development program, and Perrett was keen too to stick around for another year but he couldn't get another visa.
Saturday's balmy conditions were a bit of a change to what he had been accustomed too.
"It's a different style of rugby obviously because it's their winter, which is not sunshine, 21 degrees like it is here (on Saturday)," he said.
"It's often miserable, rain, snow, mudpits, so it's a completely different game. It's a lot slower, more physical, there's not as much space."
As someone who does like to play a expansive game, Perrett was fortunate his side went against the grain a bit.
"The team I was part of we were a younger team and our philosophy was to try and throw it around," he said.
"Even in the wet conditions we still threw it around and had some fun, so it suited my game play."
After earning promotion Perrett's first season over there, Scarborough just missed out on stepping up again.
For now he is planning to step back from the rugby development side for a bit, as he looks to get back into farm life.
