There's a fire burning in Shannon Boyd's belly and if it wasn't driving the Canberra Raiders prop towards a big year then he'd be wasting his time.
Boyd enjoyed a breakout season last year, where he emerged as one of the best props in the NRL and capped off a big Raiders campaign with a Test debut for Australia.
Raiders prop Shannon Boyd has set himself for a big year.Credit:Jamila Toderas
But the year ahead was shaping as an even bigger one for the Green Machine's big bopper.
A drought-breaking premiership, State of Origin and the end-of-year Rugby League World Cup are all on the horizon for the Cowra kid.
Having slotted seamlessly into the Australian front row during the Kangaroos' triumphant Four Nations campaign in England last year, it makes a State of Origin debut for the NSW Blues the obvious next step for Boyd.
He's also in the picture when Australia coach Mal Meninga picks his Kangaroos squad for the World Cup at the end of the NRL season.
His powerful running and brutal defence, in conjunction with front-row partner Junior Paulo, played a major role in the Raider's emergence as a genuine premiership contender.
They bowed out of the 2016 title race with a gut-wrenching two-point loss to the Melbourne Storm.
It stung Boyd and while he left Australia's shores to represent his country in the aftermath, he didn't leave the pain of missing out on the grand final behind him.
The 24-year-old knows the key to achieving his holy trinity of goals is to start his Canberra campaign with a bang.
"At the moment for myself I'd love to be able to start with some good form where I was last year at the end of the year," Boyd said.
"I think I started a little bit slower at the start of last year, but if I can get into it and start playing some good footy from round one it's going to help me out and it'll definitely help the team out too.
"Falling short one game after 26 weeks of the year, it's pretty tough just missing out on a grand final by that much.
"It's a long season and to not be able to strive to win a grand final it makes it hard and it feels like you're wasting your time really. If we can really rip in and have a good crack we'll have a good chance.
"We've got the tour around Australia here at the end of the year, you've got the Blues coming up and if we play some good footy I can't see why we can't have a few more rep players and that will really help the team.
"To be able to play for the Blues if I ever got the chance that'd be something I'd love to do and look forward to."
Boyd is part of the biggest pack in the NRL, along with his partner Paulo and now Dave "Coal Train" Taylor as well.
Paulo said his fellow prop's power was an essential part of the Green Machine's game plan, allowing their talented backs to razzle and dazzle.
"It's awesome when you have another big bloke who tries to push you as well on the field," he said.
"Everyone knows that Boydy will run over people and to be able to play off the back of that is something that our game plan is structured around.
"If our forwards aren't going forward then our backs aren't able to do what they do.
"It's definitely an exciting brand of footy that we play here at the Raiders and I'm sure we'll be looking to kick off again this year."
Former NSW and Australia prop Steve Roach said given Boyd had already represented his country there wasn't much higher he could go.
But the challenge would be playing at that level for the next 10 years.
Roach is a big admirer of everything big and Boyd falls right into that category standing at 194 centimetres tall and weighing in at 122 kilograms.
He backed the Raiders prop to establish himself for both the Kangaroos and the NSW Blues.
"He's already playing for Australia. There's not much higher you can go than that," Roach said.
"The big thing now is to be consistent, be in and around that arena with Origin and Test matches and all that sort of stuff, be in and around it for a decade.
"He can certainly do it if he keeps himself hungry and in nick. He's got a taste of it now, now he's got to be hungrier to get it."
Newcastle and Manly premiership prop Josh Perry agreed that consistency was the key for Boyd.
Perry played four Tests for Australia and three Origins and he felt Boyd had handled the step up to international level well.
Boyd made his debut against New Zealand in Perth before going on to play at the Four Nations, but he's yet to get a taste of State of Origin for the Blues.
Perry backed him to get his first NSW jersey if he comes out of the gates firing.
"He's staring down the barrel of playing State of Origin this year if he can get going and the rest of the boys are with him it's going to be easier for him to get to that position," Perry said.
"He played for Australia last year so he's earned that right. If he has a good first six-to-eight weeks he'll be a big chance and if he does take that next step he could be anything.
"He's only young and big and strong and powerful. The world's at his feet."
Boyd's world is more than just football.
He's bought a farm with his brother back in his home town of Cowra and he loves to go pig hunting.
Family is an important part of his life and he loves nothing more than getting back to country life in his time off.
He's found keeping his mind fresh and not thinking too much about footy helps with his energy levels come game day.
His long-term goal is to return to the farm when his playing days are done.
"One big thing about keeping your mind fresh is being away from footy," Boyd said.
"Throughout the week and days off I think the best thing you can do is clear your head and don't think about footy, it makes you a bit fresher for the weekends.
"I went home and had six weeks off [after the Four Nations]. I spent a majority of it back there, went pigging for a week, just did a lot of work on the farm and really enjoyed my time.
"That's something I need to do and everyone's different. I had a good break and I feel fresh and ready to go. I'm looking forward to it."