In many ways 2010 could define Quade Cooper's career.
The naturally-gifted 11-Test Wallaby has led a Reds revival that sees the Queenslanders on the cusp of breaking an 11-year Super rugby play-off drought, but Cooper knows he was lucky to be given a second chance.
He underwent 'intensive counselling and personal development' after being convicted of burglary at a residence in Surfers Paradise last December just after returning from a breakthrough Australian tour.
"I don't want to forget about it. I learnt a valuable lesson," Cooper revealed. "You can't go around partying all the time. I've grown up a lot since then. It woke me up."
"My rugby could have been taken away. Rugby is what I want to do with my life and I don't want to ruin that. I realised I needed to take my life in my own hands and not be an idiot out on the piss. Do positive things, rather than trying to live the rock star life. Rugby is a vehicle that has helped me with that."
The 22-year-old pivot, who grew up in the New Zealand rugby-oriented country town of Tokoroa until he was 15, faces another critical career decision with the Western Force tabling a huge third-party offer that his cash-strapped club, which is under Australian Rugby Union administration, cannot match.
Understandably it is desperate to keep him and may hold a trump card in his mother, Ruhia, who lives just 10 minutes from Cooper - and a home cooked meal.
"Without my mum I wouldn't be where I am today. She's been a big influence on my life and my career," said Cooper, who moved to Brisbane in 2004 with his three sisters, two brothers and parents.
"I want to stay in Queensland. I don't want to move away from my family again. I'm really enjoying it, especially the fans and the way we're playing rugby."
"Moving states is big thing in Australia. Queensland is a traditional place and when anybody leaves it's a big deal. [Berrick] Barnes leaving for New South Wales was an unheard-of thing to do. I'm waiting to sort things out with the ARU. Hopefully we can sort my future sooner rather than later."
It's not the first dilemma Copper has confronted.
In 2008 while off contract with the Reds - eligible for the All Blacks and Wallabies - Cooper had an offer from the New Zealand Rugby Union to come 'home' and play for Wellington.
"It was tough. It took me the whole season to decide," Cooper told Sportal. "I had left my family once and hadn't coped well, so that was a big influence in me staying in Australia."
"I definitely know where I came from. I play for Australia, but I consider myself a bit of both."
He has no regrets and rightly so, now playing outside one of the best halfbacks in world rugby.
"Will [Genia] is such a quality halfback. You don't come across No.9s like him every day,” Cooper said.
"He's worked really hard on his game – like I have. Playing outside him is very special. He offers such good service and he's an attacking threat. Hopefully I get to play a lot more games with him and we’ll soon find out if that happens at a higher level."
On Friday night against the Hurricanes, Cooper needs four points to surpass goal-kicking lock John Eales' Reds' record