In sport, players are ultimately judged on what they achieve for their clubs and the silverware they lift along the way.
But for all the success Jez Litten has enjoyed with Hull KR, representing his country remains the ultimate honour.
The hooker has won every major prize on offer at club level but nothing quite compares with the opportunity to pull on an England shirt at a World Cup.
"There are a lot of people you want to represent," said Litten. "I'm representing my club, my family and myself as well.
"It's a dream come true for me. It's the pinnacle to represent your country. I'm very patriotic and proud of where I come from. I love singing that national anthem.
"I love watching England in football tournaments and even rugby union in the World Cup. To get the opportunity to do that myself gives me goosebumps.
"And you get to do it with your mates and people you compete with at a high level in Super League. It's the highlight of my career to date. Hopefully we can go a long way in the tournament."
That part of the dream is in doubt after a damaging defeat for England in their opening group clash with Tonga.
In any other format, there would have been genuine reasons for optimism heading into the rest of the tournament, starting against France on Saturday.
"We can take some real positives from that game," said Litten.
"We got held up over the line a few times. They scrambled really well and we had a couple of clean breaks that we didn't ice.
"We're confident in our ability. If a few of those chances drop for us, we're in a different position.
"It was a hard one to take in that respect but there's so much to build on."
The problem for England is that time is already running out.
In a complex inter-group stage, there was little room for error from the start and now England's hopes of reaching the semi-finals depend on a combination of their own results and other outcomes.
Brian McDermott's team have been left needing to beat France and Papua New Guinea convincingly while hoping for a favour from Tonga against Samoa, barring an unexpected result elsewhere.
They have done their best to put the qualification permutations to one side ahead of the meeting with France in Perth.
"We knew the situation we were in," said Litten.
"It's unfortunate the way it's set out for us but hopefully we can still work our way into the semis.
"We're in a difficult position but it's something we can't look into. We've accepted our fate and know we can only control what we can control.
"If you go into a game thinking you need to score points and go away from what we did for large parts of that first game, we'll come unstuck against a France team that will fancy it. They'll want to bounce back from last week.
"We're not going to change the way we play this week."
The style McDermott talked up before the tournament was evident in last week's opener, even in defeat.
England looked to offload at every opportunity in search of the point of difference craved by McDermott.
While that approach failed to deliver the result they wanted, Litten believes the former Leeds Rhinos boss is already putting his stamp on the national team.
"He delivers simple messages and is honest, which I like," said Litten.
"I always knew he was a big, tough bloke. The success he had at Leeds and the way they played, it's something I admired growing up.
"He's brought that style into this camp and I've enjoyed it. I'm just trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can from him.
"We showed the style we want to play under him last week. The signs are there."
Litten – firmly established as Hull KR's leading hooker – was limited to a second-half cameo against Tonga after newly crowned Man of Steel Brad O'Neill was handed the starting shirt by McDermott.
His role may have changed but his priorities have not.
"It's international rugby and your country and team come first," said Litten. "I accept that.
"I've done both roles throughout my career. I was just ready to come on whenever I was needed. I'll be the same throughout the tournament if that's my role.
"I thought Brad was really tough in that game. We're bouncing off each other. We've got different styles but he can get out (from dummy-half) really well as well and is a solid defender.
"I don't really view it as a competition with Brad because we've connected really well and both want what's best for the team. It's just been a friendship and a partnership.
"We've both got the same motivation, which is to win games for England."
Results are the only currency from here on out.
Despite England's precarious position, Litten's ambition remains unchanged.
"For us to get to the semis and win it," he said.
"You don't want to leave a World Cup saying you got knocked out in the group stage. I think we're a good enough team to say we want to win the World Cup.
"I know we've got a tough challenge ahead of us but I'm confident in the group that we can put ourselves in the best position to get to the semi-final."