They are now living their dreams of playing in the NRL but some of our biggest stars remember their days lugging furniture, cutting concrete, cleaning car parks and even weeding carrots on their way to the big time.
Charlie Gubb (Warriors)
Probably unloading shipping containers in Brisbane. There was also concrete cutting there in Brisbane at the airport, that was bad. They were both up there with the worst jobs I have ever had. It was hard work, long hours and it was so hot.
Isaac Liu (Roosters)
The hardest job I've done was during 20s at the Tigers. We did furniture removal. It was pretty tough at times. I think winter was the worst; your fingers are freezing off.
Jordan Kahu (Broncos)
I used to help clean a hotel back in Wellington and they made me vacuum all the car parks. They were pedantic about their car parks being clean... Every morning at the start of work I had to vacuum three levels worth of car parks and that was definitely the worst thing I've ever done for work.
Luke Douglas (Titans)
The worst job I've ever had was as a concreter's labourer. The work was really tough and the boss – my dad – used to ride me hard.
Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)
Technically I've come straight from school into footy so I haven't really had any paid jobs. I'd have to say being a paper boy when I was a bit younger. I used to do it while running so I guess it gave me a bit of extra confidence. Maybe it wasn't actually that bad.
Eloni Vunakece (Roosters)
I've worked a lot of jobs but I'd have to say being a removalist. I wouldn't say it was the worst job; it was the hardest. It's a tough gig what those guys do. The hardest part is just looking after everything or removing something down three flights of stairs or having to try to lift something back up three flights of stairs. I never broke anything but I did have a mate who broke a $25,000 computer.
Nathaniel Roache (Warriors)
I did about a month in bricklaying, that was tough, that's why I only lasted a month! Making mud and stuff like that and then having to train after it, that was hard and I have a new respect for the boys who have to do it in the lower grades now.
Mitchell Aubusson (Roosters)
I was a fencer for three days while I was playing local footy up in Ballina. After that three days I was never going to fence again and I put that down to the boss who ran it was in our local first grade team. He honestly tells me the reason I'm here today is because he put me through three days of tough work. I told him I'd never go back to work with him but vowed to make it in footy. I'll be forever grateful for that.
Zeb Taia (Titans)
My dad is a scaffolder and when me and my brother were 13 and 14 years old he made us come to the work site with him for two days. We were carrying three planks and two standards which is what you see blokes carrying now and we didn't even get paid for it! We still give it to him about the heavy labour he made us do but I think it was his way of motivating us so we didn't end up doing that when we finished school.
Elijah Taylor (Wests Tigers)
I think I was like seven years old and we were on a farm in Patea and we were weeding carrots. The lines were so long, the paddocks were huge and I only got $10 for a day's work. I used to think $10 was heaps but even that wasn't worth it.
This article originally featured on NRL.COM
