The phone call between Erin Clark and David Kidwell couldn't have been anymore Kiwi when the Maori coach asked him to play in the All Stars.
It didn't even worry the Titans hooker that he had just been woken up, given the news he was about to receive.
"I was in bed and I think Patrick (Herbert) rang me and went... 'oh, Kiddy’s going to ring you. I gave him your number'. So, I sat up and I was over the moon, even though I was half asleep," Clark said, recalling the initial phone call with Kidwell asking him to represent the Maori All Stars.
"It was a typical Kiwi chat you know... 'Chur bro... you fit, you healthy? Would you be keen to play in the Maoris?
"I said 100 percent, definitely."
'I'll remember it for the rest of my life' - Clark
Set to make his debut for his heritage that he's so proud of, his selection is not just special to the 24-year-old himself, but to his family as well; remembering when he used to watch the clash on TV with family and friends and dream of one day representing his home nation.
[It's special] not just to me, but to my family. I’m really family orientated so my family mean a lot to me," Clark said.
"When I go out there, I want to represent not only my family, but my culture and where I’m from – New Zealand, so just to wear that symbol on my chest is something I’ll be proud of.
"I think as a kid or even two years ago, I was sitting at home watching this exact game and to be named in the team and to run out in the team is definitely a privilege and something to remember for the rest of my life."
Anointed the starting rake for the Titans in Round 1 by Justin Holbrook last week, the Manurewa junior is looking forward to putting his hard pre-season work to practice given the expected speed and intensity of the first 80 minutes of the year.
"Just to go out there with pre-season just finishing and putting what we’ve done at pre-season to work, [it'll be interesting to] see how the lungs are because it’s going to be a quick game, that’s for sure," Clark said.
He also hasn't lost touch of the fact there are two worthy candidates behind him at the Titans, and relishes the healthy competition Tanah Boyd and Aaron Booth offer to the incumbent rake.
[Being told I'm the starting hooker] is a good thing for me, but there’s still a few weeks till Round 1. I just have to keep training and put my best foot forward in the trials – we’ve also got Tanah and Boothy," Clark said.
"Boothy has come back from injury and he’s training well and Tanah has been training well the whole pre-season. It’s healthy competition and it’s only good for the club.
"I just don’t want to be complacent. It’s easy to fall into the trap where you get comfortable.
"I try and not get comfortable because it pushes me to better as a person and as a player, and with the healthy competition of Tanah and Boothy, it’s going to keep me on my toes and nothing's ever a given.
"We’ve still got a few weeks until Round 1 and in the trials, I’ve just got to put my best foot forward."
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