In Brad Fittler’s eyes, there are few better fits in rugby league than Mitchell Aubusson and the Sydney Roosters.
Aubusson, the boy from Ballina who on Saturday against Cronulla will surpass Anthony Minichiello as the Roosters’ most-capped player in their 112-year history.
A man who has played in virtually every position in his 302 games, having never considered a move elsewhere to be a permanent star in one spot.
At the same time as Aubusson’s arrival, the Roosters were a team who desperately needed to steady the ship before becoming one of the most successful clubs of the modern NRL era.
“They are a really good match,” Fittler told AAP.
“When he looks back he’ll know he’s been pretty lucky.
“He’s won three grand finals and got beat in another one. As well as minor premierships all through that.
“He’s a winner, it’s been winning. He would have enjoyed the journey together as much as the Roosters.”
Fittler was among the first to coach a 19-year-old Aubusson at the Roosters.
An assistant to Chris Anderson when he debuted as a five-eighth in 2007, Fittler had taken charge by year’s end and had him at centre.
“I probably didn’t see the amount of games, I don’t think anyone saw that,” Fittler admitted.
“But I definitely saw the character. He just had all the attributes of a good player and a good team man.
“That comes out over time.”
A Roosters legend himself, Fittler has seen the best of the club’s past generation.
He played alongside their two other 300-gamers in Minichiello and Luke Ricketson, and finds the trio hard to split for the title of greatest clubman.
“(They) deserve to be in that conversation as well,” Fittler said.
“But he (Aubusson) has done it with a level of class and a lack of fuss which is incredible.
“Everyone who knows him loves his company, he seems to have his priorities in the right order.
“And he is just a really good clubman.”
For Trent Robinson, the retiring Aubusson is right up there too.
He first dealt with him as his assistant in 2010 and loved him as a natural footballer in the second row and centres, before returning as head coach in 2013.
There he saw a man he praises for his loyalty and “strong moral fibres” with Aubusson helping set the tone of the Roosters becoming a club where players rarely leave.
“They (Minichiello, Ricketson and Aubusson) have all typified what we want to be as a club,” Robinson said.
“Aubo is the ultimate clubman.
“I have never seen someone as selfless as Aubo. He thinks more about the club than his own game.
“And that’s pretty unique as an elite athlete but that’s what he does … he deserves to go to 303 on Saturday.”