Kiwis forward Adam Blair said he was touched by his teammates' touching gesture to honour his 50th test for New Zealand.
Blair became the second New Zealander to play 50 tests for the Kiwis, behind Ruben Wiki (55) and just the ninth player in rugby league history, during his side's 12-8 win over the Great Britain Lions in Auckland on Saturday.
To pay their respects, Blair was presented with a medal after the match, before his teammates performed a special haka.
Blair made his test debut back in 2006, and is one of only two active players still in the Kiwis who won the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and the 2010 Four Nations final.
But what makes his 50th test more special is that he wasn't initially selected in the Kiwis test squad. He was drafted in by coach Michael Maguire following a number of player withdrawals.
"It was one of the proudest moments of my career," Blair told NRL.com, reflecting on the match.
"I never thought I'd play 50 tests for my country. It's crazy. I had time to reflect when I was singing the national anthem. Whenever I put on the jersey, I'm always privileged and proud.
"We're trying to put the jersey in a better place and to stand there with my family and the boys showing their respects was cool, it was a touching moment." t
Earlier this year he played his 300th game in the NRL, becoming the third New Zealander to do so, following Wiki and Simon Mannering.
Kiwis coach Maguire also paid his respects to Blair after the match.
"To play 50 games for your country is an incredible effort," he said. "I hope everyone in New Zealand will understand how special Adam is.
"The way he sacrificed, prepared himself and done all the little things to be able to give himself the opportunity to play in finals and now 50 tests is remarkable.
"Blair wasn't initially the squad. He landed back in New Zealand from a holiday, and I rang him and begged for him to come over to Australia, and he jumped back on the plane that night, so it shows how special the jersey is to him."
The Kiwis now head down to Christchurch for the second and final test against the Lions.
Join us on Saturday for live updates of the Kiwis v Lions rugby league test.
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