While most NZ Warriors players are still adjusting to life at their new base at Kingscliff, New South Wales, hooker Karl Lawton feels right at home - literally.
The utility hails from Murwillumbah, less than 30 minutes away from the team's new headquarters on the northern New South Wales border, while his family lives on the Gold Coast, a 40-minute drive away.
That has seen Lawton, 24, become the Warriors' local 'tour guide', instantly becoming the most popular player at the club.
He has taken the squad to all the local hot spots, but has been inundated by players keen to fish on the Lawton family boat.
"The family has a nice spot on the water, so I take the boat out when I can and get the boys on board," Lawton told Newshub, from the family residence on the Gold Coast.
"I have to fend a few off, because once they go out once, they want to go out 10 times after that, so you have to rotate them.
"I've been a bit of a tour guide. I've taken the boys to a few surf spots, a few cafes.
"I even took them out crabbing the other day. We got about seven, so the boy hoed into that, which was handy.
"They've been peppering me every day to get out on the water, so you have to wean them off - more training, less crabbing."
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