Addin Fonua-Blake credits coach Andrew Webster for a transformation that's seen the NZ Warriors prop become one of the best front rowers in the NRL this year.
Already boasting a reputation as one of the game's best when he signed for the Warriors from Manly Sea Eagles in 2021, Fonua-Blake has hit new heights as part of the Auckland club's stellar start under Webster.
So far this season, he has played in all 11 of the Warriors' matches, for six wins and five defeats to sit seventh on the ladder, with the chance of qualifying for the NRL finals for the first time since 2018.
Fonua-Blake doesn't consider himself the best prop in the game - instead giving that honour to Brisbane Broncos' Payne Haas - but the numbers don't lie in support of the Warriors front rower's case.
Already this season, he has made 318 tackles and run 1639 metres - 567 of them after contact - an average of more than 51 per game.
That improvement comes down to the influence of Webster, who took the reins of the former strugglers this season.
"I came in the off-season and spoke with Webby," he explained. "We set some goals and obviously he sets the bar pretty high, especially with where he came from.
"He set a few goals for me. I feel like I've ticked a few of them in the early rounds.
"I'm still getting used to some of the things he wanted out of me. I'm just preparing as well as I can each week, I feel like I'm getting better each week.
"I've just got to stick to what his process is and just keep buying into it, put my faith in him. I'm reaping the rewards at the moment."
Fonua-Blake isn't the only improver at the Warriors. This season has already seen career-best form from the likes of halfback Shaun Johnson, hooker Wayde Egan and winger Ed Kosi to name a few.
For Fonua-Blake, that all-in approach from the team has sparked the run of form that's seen them surprise those who'd predicted another season of mediocrity.
"I just feel like I get my success off the back of the team," he said. "If the boys play good, I play good and vice versa - if I play good, the boys play good.
"I just feel like everyone's in a better headspace. The feel around the club at the moment is definitely a good vibe.
"Even when we were on a bit of a losing streak, no-one was ever down or kicking stones. The boys were in here, thinking about how we can get better."
As well as doing his job as a forward, Fonua-Blake has also topped an intriguing statistic for the Warriors. He and Kosi are also the Warriors' joint top tryscorers this season, crossing the line five times already.
Those numbers have already seen Fonua-Blake equal his career-best tally for a single season, when he scored five times for the Sea Eagles in 2019.
Those tries came in 22 games, so he has another 13 games to score at least one more to set a new mark.
Ever humble, Fonua-Blake simply puts his success down to being in the right place at the right time.
"We've got a gameplan, with a bit of space through the middle the last couple of weeks," he added.
"I'm just lucky that I was leading hard enough, the boys were getting the ball. I just go under the sticks and put it down.
"I'm really enjoying it. I'd definitely take a few more tries off the back - it's great that us boys in the middle get a bit more time underneath the sticks.
"I'm really enjoying it."
Fonua-Blake has the chance to set a new personal best on Saturday, when the Warriors travel to Napier to face Brisbane Broncos.
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