The Blues have lured two of the all-time great five-eighths for their Super Rugby campaign after signing All Blacks legend Dan Carter as an injury replacement.
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A franchise which has struggled for direction and success since Carlos Spencer's departure 15 years ago, now boast past and present All Blacks playmakers Carter and Beauden Barrett as their options at No.10 for the looming season.
Carter, 38, who became a free agent when the Japan Top League shut down in March, trained with his new teammates on Thursday on a contract which will reportedly see him paid just $18,000 across the 10-week competition.
The world record Test point-scorer and dual World Cup winner has only played six games in the last 18 months and warned he's unlikely to be seen until several weeks into the championship which starts on June 13.
Having settled in Auckland, he set his motivation was to give something back to NZ rugby, as well as do a favour for Blues coach Leon MacDonald, a long-time teammate during Carter's 13 seasons at the Crusaders.
"We've been teammates for a big part of my career and to be coached by him is great," Carter said.
"It's all happened really quickly. Last week I probably thought this was the last place I would be.
"I don't want to think about what it would be like to play against the Crusaders, if that were to happen. I'll deal with that later on."
MacDonald said he couldn't believe his luck when Carter agreed to a hastily-arranged deal after utility back Stephen Perofeta was ruled out with injury.
"I think I might have hit the jackpot here. Maybe he's just coming out of lockdown and still not thinking straight," MacDonald said.
The last of Carter's 112 Tests was the 2015 World Cup final win over Australia at Twickenham, where he took his points tally to 1598 and was later crowned world player of the year for a third time.
The brilliant Barrett is expected to be the starting No.10 when the Blues host the Hurricanes in the opening round next week.
That game was expected to be all about Barrett, a nine-season Hurricane who has yet to make his Blues debut.
However, two-time world player of the year Barrett acknowledged the game's profile had gone to another level following Carter's move.
"How good eh? Here I was thinking 'next week is going to be hectic', but holy hecker," Barrett said to Carter during training in comments picked up by media.
Carter wouldn't say if he will play on beyond this year.
"My father played until he was 40 so I have to get one up on him. I have a few more years to go yet."
Australian Associated Press
