Warriors legend Wairangi Koopu has taken his first step towards joining the flow across the codes, rocking up to the Auckland rugby team's training this week as he assesses his next move.
The veteran backrower, who is off contract with the Warriors at the end of the current NRL season and surplus to requirements as they go through their dramatic finals run, has said he is keen to make the switch to rugby union.
He told reporters recently he was hoping he might receive offers from rugby clubs in the northern hemisphere, but given he has no background in rugby it's probable these are proving less forthcoming than he might have anticipated.
Koopu was with the Auckland team at their Mt Albert training headquarters on Monday as they launched preparations for Saturday night's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington.
The former Kiwis star trained with Shane Howarth's side, with the Auckland coach revealing it was part of Koopu's "feeling-out" process as he evaluated his next career move.
"Wairangi rang up last week. He's sorting out all his options. He said did I mind if he came down and watched training. I said 'put your boots on, come down for a run, there's no harm in it'.
"It was great to have him out there and running around. He hasn't played rugby, but he's exploring all his avenues and we're rapt to have him down here."
Howarth admitted the 28-year-old who had made 159 appearances for the Warriors over 10 seasons was "a bit lost" as he felt his way through his potential new code.
"But he's got huge respect from the players and it's really good to have him around, and anything we can do to help him... he'll be with us as long as he wants to pick up whatever he wants."
And, what prospect of the, er, arrangement becoming a little more permanent?
"I dont know his contractual agreements," said Howarth, who noted that Auckland rugby had a strong relationship with the Warriors through John Hart. "I think it's just a case of Wairangi exploring all his avenues. There would be no reason why not, but he hasn't played a game of rugby."
Howarth said Koopu would have to start in Auckland's development teams if he was keen, but did say "by all means we'd accommodate him there".
Auckland skipper Ben Atiga said not only was he happy for Koopu to join the team's training session, but was hopeful he could even have a positive influence on his young team about to face the toughest match of their career at Eden Park this Saturday night.
"He doesn't sit back," said Atiga who added the 96kg Koopu had his sights on a midfield role in the XV-a-side code. "Just his personality draws the guys together. It's been good to have him here, he's asking a lot of questions, he's keen to get amongst it and just weigh up his decisions.
"We'll see how things turn out, but he'll be good use for us this week. We're short a few players and hopefully he'll get a bit of experience from that."
Howarth said he was thrilled with the Warriors' historic achievement on Sunday when they became the first ever eight seed to knock the NRL's minor premiers over in the first round of the playoffs when they stunned the Storm in Melbourne.
"That was outstanding," said Howarth. "I was jumping up and down in my lounge, saying to Michael [Witt] 'put the bloody thing down'."
It wasn't lost on the Auckland coach either that there are certain parallels between the Warriors and his own side's assignment this week, with nobody expecting the Auks to defend against the in-form Lions.
"No one gave them a hope and they showed what a bit of character and a bit of confidence can do. I was rapt for them," said Howarth.
"The boys have been talking about it for most of the day. Who wouldn't have enjoyed it? This union-league divide only happens in other places. I want the Warriors to go all the way now. It would be great to see them win the Grand Final."
Inspiration for his men, then?
"Obviously we're the underdogs, but we're doing all right. [Wellington] are a good side and they're on fire and it's going to take a lot to hold them out."
A Warrior-like effort, most likely.
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