KEY POINTS:
Steve Matai has roomed with Manu Vatuvei, drunk kava with his idol Ruben Wiki.
He's got plenty of mates in the New Zealand Warriors and was on his feet cheering when Vatuvei raced down the sideline to set up the match-winning try for Michael Witt against the Melbourne Storm a fortnight ago.
But that won't stop the Manly enforcer seeking out a bone-jarring hit on one unlucky Warrior in tonight's grand final qualifier at the Sydney Football Stadium.
With one notable exception.
"It won't be Rubes [Wiki]. After watching Sia [Soliola] come off against him [against the Roosters last Friday], I think I'll be getting out of the way if he's running at me," Matai said.
But there's a good chance one Warrior will be seeing stars at some point.
The five-test Kiwis centre from Auckland, 1.77m and 94kg, has built a reputation as the heaviest pound-for-pound hitter in his four seasons in the NRL.
Best example: the opening 10 minutes of last year's grand final when Matai lined up 110kg Storm prop Brett White. It was a rare high point in Manly's 34-8 defeat.
"I remember that one," Matai grinned.
"It was just something I tried to do. We were dropping the ball in every set we had on the line so I was just trying to lift the boys and hopefully I did that.
"I'll be hoping to try and do something on Saturday to lift the boys. I wouldn't like to be running at Rubes though, and a few of their big forwards."
But Matai is remembered as much for another hit that didn't quite find the mark last October. His last act as a Kiwi was a high shot on Kangaroos centre Mark Gasnier in their 50-point hiding in Wellington. He was sent off by English referee Steve Ganson, then missed the Kiwis' end-of-year tour due to a right shoulder reconstruction.
The former Ponsonby junior requires a shoulder arthroscope at season's end but there's a two-month recovery time, meaning Manly's club doctor has given Matai the option of postponing surgery until after next month's World Cup.
"I'm definitely available, I'm ready to go and hoping to be playing. It was frustrating missing the tour last year. I was pretty filthy on that.
"I'd like to be remembered for better reasons [than the send-off]. It's a different competition now so I'm hoping to give it everything for the Kiwis if I get selected."
First things first, and the chance for Matai to ruin the Warriors' fairytale finals run and give himself a shot at grand final redemption.
Aside from a one-match ban for a high tackle against Gold Coast, Matai has been a key cog in their machine with tryscoring doubles against Parramatta and Gold Coast in the final six weeks of the regular season.
He's been in awe of the Warriors' recent form, and his Kiwis mate Vatuvei in particular.
"I roomed with Manu on the 2006 tour and just to see him playing as well as he is, I feel pretty proud of him. Hopefully he doesn't go too well this week. He's been the reason they've been winning, because he's been going so well and we definitely have to be on our game to stop him.
"To come from where they have, eighth position, has given them a lot of self-belief, especially beating the Roosters. They think they can go all the way.
"Especially with Rubes there, he's a great leader and he always gets the guys going. They've got nothing to lose this week and I'm sure they look forward to playing us."
- NZPA
