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He has had two stints at St George Illawarra and one at Melbourne, but Chase Stanley still feels like he has gone home, having now made the move to the Bulldogs.
"I grew up around Belmore," Stanley said. "I played my first football here when I was young. I was a junior here.
"The first first-grade game I watched was at Belmore – Auckland Warriors against the Bulldogs.
"I've been a local, born and bred in the area, so it felt like I was coming back to a home.
"I know the area pretty well, and the people around here. That always helps." Stanley, a former New Zealand representative, went to school at Belmore South Public School, and also knocked around with Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds, his new teammate.
"Our families were pretty close when we were younger, but we moved away," Stanley said. "But we kept in touch.
"I know a few of the boys. That definitely helps, getting used to the Bulldogs culture."
Now 24, Stanley is one of the few new signings made by Bulldogs' coach Des Hasler for the 2014 season. With fullback Ben Barba departing, that will place pressure on Stanley, as well as the team. But he is relishing the challenge.
"I just needed a fresh start," Stanley said. "I was off contract, and this was a good opportunity for me.
"We didn't have the best year at the Dragons. It was a bit frustrating, knowing we could have done a bit better with the team that we had. It was a disappointing year, but I'm sure they're going to grow from that."
He also has high expectations for the Bulldogs.
"There are a lot of great players here and a lot of depth," Stanley said. "I look forward to being a part of it.
"I just want to have a good pre-season – that's where it all stars – and be a part of the culture. I want to keep learning."
Where Hasler sees him fitting in remains to be seen.
Hasler, as yet, has not pulled off the expected acquisition of a fullback to replace Barba, which means spots across the Bulldogs' back line are not cemented yet.
Stanley can play most of them, and is approaching his fresh start with an open mind, preferring not to focus on any particular position.
"I just want to keep training hard and put my best foot forward," Stanley said. "We'll see what happens."
"I grew up around Belmore," Stanley said. "I played my first football here when I was young. I was a junior here.
"The first first-grade game I watched was at Belmore – Auckland Warriors against the Bulldogs.
"I've been a local, born and bred in the area, so it felt like I was coming back to a home.
"I know the area pretty well, and the people around here. That always helps." Stanley, a former New Zealand representative, went to school at Belmore South Public School, and also knocked around with Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds, his new teammate.
"Our families were pretty close when we were younger, but we moved away," Stanley said. "But we kept in touch.
"I know a few of the boys. That definitely helps, getting used to the Bulldogs culture."
Now 24, Stanley is one of the few new signings made by Bulldogs' coach Des Hasler for the 2014 season. With fullback Ben Barba departing, that will place pressure on Stanley, as well as the team. But he is relishing the challenge.
"I just needed a fresh start," Stanley said. "I was off contract, and this was a good opportunity for me.
"We didn't have the best year at the Dragons. It was a bit frustrating, knowing we could have done a bit better with the team that we had. It was a disappointing year, but I'm sure they're going to grow from that."
He also has high expectations for the Bulldogs.
"There are a lot of great players here and a lot of depth," Stanley said. "I look forward to being a part of it.
"I just want to have a good pre-season – that's where it all stars – and be a part of the culture. I want to keep learning."
Where Hasler sees him fitting in remains to be seen.
Hasler, as yet, has not pulled off the expected acquisition of a fullback to replace Barba, which means spots across the Bulldogs' back line are not cemented yet.
Stanley can play most of them, and is approaching his fresh start with an open mind, preferring not to focus on any particular position.
"I just want to keep training hard and put my best foot forward," Stanley said. "We'll see what happens."
