Any up-and-coming fullback would struggle to find a more ideal situation than playing apprentice to arguably the rugby league's greatest-ever custodian, Billy Slater.
That's precisely the position Kiwis newcomer Jahrome Hughes finds himself in at the Melbourne Storm.
"It's crazy," Hughes told Newshub. "He's awesome.
"He's done a lot for me while I've been at the club, especially when I do fill in for him, he's there at training giving me tips.
"I'm just learning so much off him. I'm pretty gutted he retired, because now I don't get the same lessons.
"Hopefully, he stays around for a bit and helps me out.
"It's surreal, mate. I train with some great players every day at the Storm and now I get to do it with some Kiwis as well, which is awesome."
Slater's tutelage has clearly worked, as his form this season was rewarded with a call-up to the NZ squad for their upcoming tests against Australia and England.
The 23-year-old has spent the last two years absorbing as much knowledge as possible from Slater - now he finds himself as the frontrunner to fill the retiring great's sizeable boots.
"Obviously, with Bill retiring, there's a spot there at fullback," he laughs. "There probably hasn’t been a spot there in 16-odd years.
"There is a desire there, but I know it's not going to be easy. I'm going to have to work very hard to try to get it.
"Learning from the Kiwi boys and being the camp, I think, will give me a bit of a boost for next year, as I do try to claim that spot."
The more immediate challenge for Hughes is something much further outside his comfort zone - the infamous Kiwis rookie undies haka - a rite of passage for any player joining the squad for the first time.
"I'm sort of a shy guy, so I'm not one to be doing that sort of stuff, but I heard the new kids have to do it, so I better start practicing in my undies.
"There are a few other rookies who haven't done it yet, so I'm not alone.
"We might have to get together in a group and talk about what we're going to do there - who's going to lead it and all that stuff."
Newshub.
