In a scenario he described as "a bit weird", the former Raiders junior will make his debut for North Queensland against his old club at Canberra Stadium on Monday night. 

Just four years ago the 22-year-old hooker was playing park football for the Bungendore Tigers, determined to taste "a bit of the other life" after playing for Canberra's SG Ball grand final team in 2012. 

But after a few weeks of hard yakka with his father Peter, it hit home how good professional footballers have it. 

He accepted an offer to play under former Raiders hooker Simon Woolford at Queanbeyan Blues in 2013, and has seized his chance in Townsville after moving there the following year. 

Chudleigh was offered an under-20s contract by the Raiders but thought the Cowboys opportunity would help him stand on his own two feet. 

"Dad's got a building business, I was working for him and I definitely prefer training every day and doing something I love than working," he said. 

"He builds kitchens, I was carrying boxes up stairs from 7 o'clock in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, then go to training. 

"I had the chance to go into the [Raiders] 20s system but I wanted a break from the competitiveness side of it and played with a couple of mates in Bungendore. 

"If you've been at the top level you have to make sacrifices and I'd just turned 18 as well, I wanted to see a bit of the other life."

"But my dad would always say to me I should be playing football and not working for a living."

Chudleigh has been named on the bench for North Queensland, who are without several big names through State of Origin duty. 

He was Queanbeyan Blues' players' player in 2013 when they were beaten by Queanbeyan Kangaroos in the grand final, and bagged the same honour for the Cowboys' under-20s side in 2014.  

In the final year of his two-year NRL deal, Monday's clash gives him a chance to prove his worth. 

His parents will drive the 40km from Bungendore, which has a population of just 3500, to cheer him on at Canberra Stadium, and his younger brother Nathan will be in the stands. 

"The Raiders were interested in me but there was more opportunity up at the Cowboys and it was a new experience," Chudleigh said.

"It was a hard decision to make because I was leaving my family but everyone has to grow up some time. I think it made me mature a lot more.

"It is a bit weird [making my debut] back in my home town but I'll treat it as any other game, I'm just grateful for the opportunity. 

"I think my mum [Helen] has got the whole town [Bungendore] coming down to watch.

"It's everyone's dream to play NRL as a kid but I didn't think I'd be given an opportunity until the end of the [Queanbeyan] Blues season when my [former] manager approached me [about the Cowboys interest]."

A star hooker himself in 262 NRL games for Canberra and St George Illawarra, Woolford knew from the outset Chudleigh had what it took to crack the big time. 

"He won't be here next year, which is disappointing, but he belongs in a [NRL] system," Woolford said in June 2013.

"He's creative and just so tough.

"I'd love to have him at the Blues next year but that's doing him an injustice. He's too good.

"The last three weeks he's destroyed the opposition and he's just got it, as simple as that."

MONDAY

NRL round 18: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7pm

Tickets available from Ticketek 

TV: Live on Fox Sports 1