That feeling you get driving to your hometown is unlike any other drive.
Perhaps it’s passing the welcome sign, a favourite local bakery or your favourite local watering hole.
Whatever it is, there’s an indiscernible feeling of familiarity that lets you know you’re back where it all started.
For Blake Lenehan, this weekend will see him playing his 100th game at home, in North Ipswich Reserve, right where he belongs.
He will be the 273rd player to play 100 Hostplus Cup games.
Lenehan played Cyril Connell Cup, Mal Meninga Cup and Colts for the Jets, progressing through the ranks to represent the Ipswich Jets in the Hostplus Cup.
Lenehan made his debut against the PNG Hunters in 2019.
Ben Walker and Shane Walker got him on the field for 15 minutes off the bench wearing number 17 against a formidable PNG Hunters pack, against a team the Jets had never beaten in five attempts in Port Moresby.
Six runs earned him 52 metres on the day with eight tackles to his name in addition.
“That’s still my highlight, making my debut for Ipswich is special to me,” Lenehan said.
“We had never won over there, and it was a special day,
“Playing Cup for the Jets was all I ever wanted to do.”
Lenehan has played 40 games for the Western Clydesdales in his 99 games in the Hostplus Cup.
“It would have been great to be like Tyson Lofipo or Nat Neale and play for one club and be that one club player, but it just wasn’t to be.” Lenehan said.
“I didn’t want to leave the Jets, but I made some great friends at the Clydesdales and loved my time there.
“I am very thankful to the Clydesdales for their contribution to my 100 games.”
The final frontier for Lenehan are the finals - he only has 23 wins in his 99 games and has never experienced September footy.
“That’s something I want to do; I would love to be playing in September and not over in late August,” Lenehan said.
“I think we can do it this year and finally play finals.
“I look on those players that consistently play finals with a lot of envy.”
Lenehan knows who his favourite teammate is over the last 99 games for the Jets and Clydesdales.
“That’s Nat Neale, I just love him so much, we are still best mates.” Lenehan said.
“He was such a great forward leader mentor for me.”
Nat Neale played 180 games for the Jets and looks back with fondness on his 46 games with Lenehan in the Hostplus Cup.
“Blake is a bit angrier than me, he has more mongrel,” Neale laughed.
“I loved playing with him and still enjoy a great friendship.
“He works so hard and is really loved by Jets fans, I think they see a bit of themselves in him - local, hardworking and loves being home.
“I didn’t like seeing him play for anyone else.
“He’s had about 100 hair styles in those 100 games too.
“100 games in Cup are well earned and I have set him the challenge of playing more than me so he’s got 81 to go.”
Just like that local pub that you had your first beer at, Lenehan will be a comforting sight on Sunday, when he runs out in his 100th Hostplus game – right back where he belongs at home.
