Giant young prop Adam Blair says his involvement in the NRL grand final has been valuable preparation for his test debut.
Blair, 20, will be one of four new caps in the Kiwis when they begin their defence of their Tri-Nations title tomorrow night.
He said experiencing the pre-match hype
associated with the grand final on September 30 had stood him in good stead as he built up to gaining his first cap.
"It will be all right," he said of any pre-match nerves he might feel before running out against the Kangaroos.
"I've been there before. I've just got to go out there and take it like I did when I was back in Melbourne, with the attention and stuff.
"Everybody comes up to you and talks to you and asks all the questions. You just have to take it as it comes."
Selection for the Kiwis caps a breakthrough year for the former Whangarei Boys High School pupil, who was recruited by the Storm at 16.
It wasn't something he was targeting at the start of the season, when he was in danger of not even making his first-grade debut before he changed his attitude at training.
"I never even thought I would play NRL this year," he said.
"I'm just happy that a little bit of hard work gets you a long way in the game. You just have to put your head down and it's all paying off for me."
Blair, a former Junior Kiwi, is one of two props among the New Zealand substitutes, with Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless, and the pair will provide back-up for starting front rowers Ruben Wiki and Roy Asotasi.
Blair said his job at Mt Smart Stadium would be reasonably simple.
"I just want to come off the bench and make a big impact," he said. "Rubes and Roy run hard and do all the little things right, so I've got to come off and run hard and keep getting involved."
Coach Brian McClennan said Blair's recent game time would be an asset to a squad with players who were underdone. He also said Blair had impressed with his work ethic in camp this week and, as well as his size, he had the footwork and agility to trouble the opposition.
- NZPA
