Benji Marshall is happy to be home, after 14 years in Sydney.
While he's been enjoying whānau time back in Whakatāne and getting settled into the Auckland lifestyle, he's also been doing a lot of homework on the challenge that lies ahead.
Benji says, "It's been a lot of research about the game, watching how the Blues play, different positions and work out how I'm gonna play. It's been good, kept me busy anyway."
Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said he'd like to develop Benji as a first-five, but sees the fullback position as a good foundation.
Benji played halfback, first-five and fullback as a youngster, but whatever the position, he just wants to be good enough to make the Blues' starting XV.
While Benji is completely focussed on the Super 15 and playing well for the Blues, a crack at Sevens could be in the future and there's also a desire to play for the Māori All Blacks and the All Blacks.