That dream will become a reality for Donte Efaraimo in 2021 after the outside back decided to return to his junior club Albion Park-Oak Flats.

"I made the decision to return the Park just after Christmas, following a couple of chats on the phone with Jonesy [coach Ian Jones] and a few of the boys there," Efaraimo said.

"After weighing it up for a while, I thought it'd be great to go back to my junior club and play for the Eagles.

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"The decision was made even easier for me as my dad [Jay] is the head trainer at the Park - to get the opportunity to get trained by him is something I'm relishing."

The 24-year-old's decision to return to Centenary Field marks the first time in close to 10 years that he will play for the Eagles, having played from under 6s to under 14s there.

He then played at the Sharks from under 15s to under 18s, as well as one year of grade football, before moving to the Illawarra competition to spend time with Helensburgh (one year) and Collegians (three years).

His return to Group Seven in 2018 coincided with the Ron Costello Oval-based club ending a 17-year premiership drought.

But following the club's disappointing 2020 campaign, in which they missed finals football for the first time since returning from the Illawarra competition, Efaraimo decided to end his three-year association with the Sharks

"In my opinion, I thought last season as a whole was solid with Shellharbour," he said

"We had the core of a strong side there, with plenty of boys working hard each week.

"But we, unfortunately, missed our mark leading into finals, which is a time when you really need to be firing on all cylinders and we weren't.

"Personally, while I didn't feel I got as many opportunities as I would have liked with how the game was playing out, I thought I had another strong season with the Sharks in 2020."

Although a lot of the boys he played juniors with at the Park, including Adam Clune (Dragons) and Drew Hutchison (Roosters) aren't at the club, Efaraimo admits there is plenty he's wanted to play alongside for some time.

"While I was at the Park, Sains [Josh Sainsbury] was a couple of years older than me and a player I always looked up to," he said.

"I've always enjoyed the way he approaches the game and I'm looking forward to lining up alongside him and all the other guys this season."

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One guy who he's played alongside though is half Sam Clune.

"Cluney and I have always had a strong connection, especially during our early days together at Collies and then in the premiership-winning side at Shellharbour," he said.

"We click exceptionally well and more often than know what the other is going to do, which can only be a positive heading into a new season together."

When Efaraimo does run onto Centenary Park for the club's round one fixture against Stingrays, he has outlined why he can be an asset to the side.

"The main thing I want to bring to the club is a strong back of the field to the side - if us outside backs can make a strong start to our sets, it will lay a platform for our forwards to play off and take some heat off them," the centre said.

"I also want to be a leader to this side and ensure the team plays for the full 80 minutes because that's what's needed to be successful in this competition.

"You look at the teams that have won it recently, the do those one-percenters, never take the foot off the gas and are mentally strong - all aspects I'm confident we have here at the Park."

The signing of Efaraimo, along with Nowra-Bomaderry's Paul Roberts, keeps the club heading in an upwards trajectory after a promising 2020 campaign.

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"With a majority of last year's hard-working squad returning this season, it's a massive confidence booster coming into 2021," said Efaraimo, who admitted fellow recruit Roberts was in the best shape he's seen him.

"There's no reason why we can't keep improving on last season, as I believe semi-final football is definitely in reach for us.

"Especially with the quality of numbers we've been getting at train thus far, it really pushes all the boys in first grade to be the best players they possibly can be.

"Making it into that top-five is the first goal and then we will go from there because anything can happen in finals football.

"I'd love nothing more than bringing the trophy back to my junior club Albion Park."

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