Turner, 25, shifted to Perth only months ago to train with the Australian squad at the Australian Insitute of Sport. Until then, he had been wearing the two-blues of Bowral, as well as a number of other NSW-based teams.

The Goulburn-Mulwaree council worker was dealt a second chance when Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth asked him to train with the Junior World Cup team in Darwin.

From there he was picked to tour Europe with the national side, where he showed his wares as a striker by scoring a number of goals.

Charlesworth realised Turner’s potential and offered him a scholarship at the AIS.

Since then, he has starred in Australia’s run through the Champions Trophy tournament in Melbourne. The Kookaburras had to win Saturday’s match against Spain to be assured a place in the gold-medal playoff.

And win they did.

Australia set a new record in international hockey by scoring the most goals in a single Champions Trophy match.

The Aussies began their assault intent on controlling every area of the pitch and quickly hit the front when Grant Schubert finished off an Eddie Ockenden pass at the 21st minute.

But Spain levelled before the break to have the match in the balance at 1-1 at halftime.

The floodgates opened in the second half, as Turner and his teammates stepped up a gear and dominated the Spanish defence.

Turner scored his first goal in the 54th minute, before his second right on fulltime, to help Australia reach double figures for the first time ever