Nan's promise to her teenage grandson as he begins his professional footy career

From the sidelines of the Peter McDonald Premiership to the bright lights of the Northern Beaches, the venues are about to change drastically for Nathaniel Robinson, but his cheer squad won't.

As the 18-year-old Wellington sensation prepares to make his mark with the Manly Sea Eagles, he isn't just carrying the hopes of a town, but the unwavering backing of his Nan and Pop.

"He's been playing since he was four, and the minute he got his first little try, he's just been unstoppable," Barb said.

"There is nothing else in his head, except footy.

"Since he was little, he would say 'I'm gonna play football in the NRL', that has always been his dream."

Barb recognised just how sought-after her grandson had become, and made it clear that regardless of where he plays, she would support his leap into the career he has always wanted.

"He had a few clubs chasing him, but Manly sort of had a better offer and had some great pathways for kids," she said.

"We will make the trip to the city from Wellington to see him play, and if we're not there in person, we watch it all on live TV anyway.

"We are pretty excited about him heading to New Zealand in a couple of weeks; that is really good."

Robinson may be taking on the league's best competitors, but his Nan warns it's the opposition who should be worried.

"I don't get nervous about him playing, and it seems to be the bigger they are, the better that he plays," she said.

"He's good at it, it doesn't matter what sport he does, he's always excelled.

"He's represented for all sorts of sports, but footy is just his thing, he's an absolute freak at football."

For Barb, watching Nathaniel launch into his professional career is a full-circle moment, leaving her at a loss for words to describe the immense pride she feels.

"It's really hard to explain," she said.

"I'm just extremely proud that he's followed through with his dream.

"The fact that he's been able to fulfil this achievement is the biggest thing.

"I am always proud of him regardless of what he does."

While the leap to one of the biggest NRL clubs in Sydney looms as a daunting shift, Robinson says the transition is only possible because his "biggest supporters" are right there with him, ensuring the distance from the bush never feels too far.

"It is really important to have Nan and Pop with me," Nathaniel said.

"And they have helped me push through moving away from the west and everything.

"They have supported me through all of it, and they come to all my games and cheer me on from the sidelines."

It was a normal day at home for Robinson when the life-changing call came through. The relaxed teenager was ecstatic to finally hear the news was official after years of hard work.

"It was really exciting, I was just at home when they told me," Robinson said.

"It was just really great, I chose to sign with them because they were the club that showed the most interest in me."

Prior to joining the Eagles, Robinson played for the Western Rams and the Clontarf NSW State of Origin sides alongside Jayden Innes, a partnership that now continues with Manly.

"Jayden was my five-eighth most of the time when we played rounds together in the west, so it is really good to have him here with me," Robinson said.

"We are actually roommates up here, and we really only speak about footy when we train.

"Outside of that, we are just mates."