NZ Kiwis rookie Griffin Neame is licking his lips in anticipation of his first home test against Australia in the Pacific Championship final at Hamilton.
The rawboned West Coast prop has relished his elevation to the national team for the tri-series against the Kangaroos and Toa Samoa, making his international debut in the 50-0 win over the Pacific Islanders.
He was retained for the loss against the Aussies at Melbourne last week, but is buzzing for the return match at FMG Stadium on Saturday, as his family heads north to bay for blood and cheer him on.
"It's pretty special," he said. "Growing up, the test match you watch is NZ-Australia.
"I was in a household where you sort of hated the Kangaroos, so this is a pretty special test, my family is coming up for it and I'm really looking forward to it.
"I was a real fan of the Anzac Tests. Growing up, they were the big rival games and awesome games to watch.
"Hopefully, they bring it back - it was a bit of shame to see it go. They were my biggest memories of New Zealand v Australia."
Neame hails from a traditional hotbed of NZ rugby league, playing his junior footy with Suburbs Greymouth and Greymouth Boys High School, before signing a development contract with North Queensland Cowboys in 2021.
He made his NRL debut against Wests Tigers later that year and has now logged 43 games for the Cowboys.
Neame, 22, is proud of his West Coast roots, an area that has produced famous Kiwis like former NZ captain Tony Coll, and props Brent Stuart and Quentin Pongia.
"I've had a look into a bit of the history," he admitted. "There are a lot of old boys from the West Coast that were Kiwis and there are still a couple down there now, who I caught up with not too long ago.
"It's pretty sad to see football slowly dying off there. Hopefully, we can bring it back up and the way the Warriors are going, you can really feel rugby league [growing] in New Zealand.
"Hopefully, it just gets bigger and better."
Meanwhile, Neame is fully aware of his own influence on his childhood community, as someone who has made it onto the biggest stage.
"My parents are coming up, my grandparents are going to come up as well," he said. "I know it will be pretty special for them, but all my family in Greymouth will be glued to the screen, no matter what.
"I'll feel the support on the day."
Join Newshub at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Kiwis v Kangaroos Pacific Championship final
