DROUGHT could just be the secret to Queensland country towns producing top-notch footy players - just ask Mack Mason.
The 19-year-old Mitchell lad this year realised his childhood dream when he moved to Victoria to play in the National Rugby League for the Melbourne Storm.
Mack's mum Petra said he was offered a contract last year but was still in his final year of school.
She said Mack's career had already been 10 years in the making.
"He started in the under-8s with the Mitchell Magpies," she said.
"He went to a little one-teacher school across the river here, where there were only seven kids - two of whom were his brothers."
So when high school came around Mack had to go to boarding school in Toowoomba and Brisbane.
Proud mum Petra said she admired her son's work ethic, "which probably came from being brought up in the drought years".
"Every school holidays he was on the chainsaw, cutting up mulga for the cattle," she said.
She said Mack had always strived for bigger and better through being competitive and working hard, but he remained humble.
Mack said life as an NRL player in Melbourne was an exciting step.
"Since I was little my dream was always to play NRL, so to be here is pretty good," he said.
At the moment, he's out for a few more weeks after ligament damage he sustained during a game.
"That's what happens," Mack said.
"I'll be right soon.
"There's 10 more games of the season - hopefully we make the finals."