Still smarting from an injury-enforced test withdrawal, rising New Zealand star Greg Eastwood wants to make up for lost time by filling the big shoes of good friend Benji Marshall at this year's Tri Nations series.
Few doubts remain over Eastwood's utility value after the 102kg teenager effortlessly moved from the backrow to the wing with spectacular success for the Brisbane Broncos this season.
Now the 19-year-old wants to add another position to his repertoire following a season-ending shoulder injury to old mate and Kiwi trump card Marshall - five-eighth.
Eastwood was cruelly denied a test debut for New Zealand when he was struck down by a hamstring complaint just days before flying out for the Kiwis' June 28 clash against Great Britain in England.
After fighting back tears over his withdrawal, Eastwood smiles at the prospect of replacing former Keebra Park High School teammate Marshall at the end-of-year Tri Nations in Australia and New Zealand.
Playing alongside childhood idol Stacey Jones has prompted Eastwood to put his hand up for the vacant five-eighth role - a position where he starred for the Junior Kiwis last year.
Jones postponed his international retirement following New Zealand's 46-14 loss to Great Britain at St Helens last week in a bid to seek Tri Nations revenge.
"Benji's gone so hopefully I can get a halves spot and work alongside Stacey," he said.
"I played a lot of five-eighth at school (Gold Coast's Keebra Park) and for the Junior Kiwis.
"Learning from Stacey would be awesome. He's always been my favourite player ever since I started watching rugby league.
"It's outstanding what he can do with the ball. If I was able to play alongside him I would be over the moon.
"But anywhere in the Kiwi team would be awesome."
Eastwood - who moved to the Gold Coast from Auckland five years ago - said Tri Nations success would ease the pain of his recent test withdrawal.
"Just as I had hit my straps and got the test call-up my hammy went - that was my lowest point so far," he said.
Eastwood was jolted out of the doldrums when he returned a week earlier than expected from injury to chime into a heavily depleted Brisbane's 26-12 gutsy upset over Cronulla last round.
"That brought my spirits back up," Eastwood laughed.
He may be a product of the Gold Coast's Keebra Park program but Eastwood said he was never tempted to follow the path of Brisbane teammate Karmichael Hunt.
Kiwi-born Hunt controversially pledged his allegiance to Australia so he could play State of Origin for Queensland.
And there's a good reason why Eastwood stayed loyal to his Kiwi roots.
"I'd probably get into too much trouble from my uncles and cousins, I wouldn't hear the end of it," he laughed.
"Even though I am living over here and they have a good system here I am a proud Kiwi and always will be.
"I love Origin. I always watch the game with a few mates. Sometimes it is in the back of my mind what it would be like to play (Origin).
"It's one of the world's best games to be in but I chose my destiny."
Few doubts remain over Eastwood's utility value after the 102kg teenager effortlessly moved from the backrow to the wing with spectacular success for the Brisbane Broncos this season.
Now the 19-year-old wants to add another position to his repertoire following a season-ending shoulder injury to old mate and Kiwi trump card Marshall - five-eighth.
Eastwood was cruelly denied a test debut for New Zealand when he was struck down by a hamstring complaint just days before flying out for the Kiwis' June 28 clash against Great Britain in England.
After fighting back tears over his withdrawal, Eastwood smiles at the prospect of replacing former Keebra Park High School teammate Marshall at the end-of-year Tri Nations in Australia and New Zealand.
Playing alongside childhood idol Stacey Jones has prompted Eastwood to put his hand up for the vacant five-eighth role - a position where he starred for the Junior Kiwis last year.
Jones postponed his international retirement following New Zealand's 46-14 loss to Great Britain at St Helens last week in a bid to seek Tri Nations revenge.
"Benji's gone so hopefully I can get a halves spot and work alongside Stacey," he said.
"I played a lot of five-eighth at school (Gold Coast's Keebra Park) and for the Junior Kiwis.
"Learning from Stacey would be awesome. He's always been my favourite player ever since I started watching rugby league.
"It's outstanding what he can do with the ball. If I was able to play alongside him I would be over the moon.
"But anywhere in the Kiwi team would be awesome."
Eastwood - who moved to the Gold Coast from Auckland five years ago - said Tri Nations success would ease the pain of his recent test withdrawal.
"Just as I had hit my straps and got the test call-up my hammy went - that was my lowest point so far," he said.
Eastwood was jolted out of the doldrums when he returned a week earlier than expected from injury to chime into a heavily depleted Brisbane's 26-12 gutsy upset over Cronulla last round.
"That brought my spirits back up," Eastwood laughed.
He may be a product of the Gold Coast's Keebra Park program but Eastwood said he was never tempted to follow the path of Brisbane teammate Karmichael Hunt.
Kiwi-born Hunt controversially pledged his allegiance to Australia so he could play State of Origin for Queensland.
And there's a good reason why Eastwood stayed loyal to his Kiwi roots.
"I'd probably get into too much trouble from my uncles and cousins, I wouldn't hear the end of it," he laughed.
"Even though I am living over here and they have a good system here I am a proud Kiwi and always will be.
"I love Origin. I always watch the game with a few mates. Sometimes it is in the back of my mind what it would be like to play (Origin).
"It's one of the world's best games to be in but I chose my destiny."
