Two All Blacks are unwittingly helping to mould an ACT Brumbies young gun and Reesjan Pasitoa is beaming about the prospect of playing against one of his idols this year.
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The Brumbies teenager lit up when he found out Dan Carter was making a New Zealand rugby comeback this year after he signed a deal to join the Auckland Blues for a domestic competition.
Whether he gets to go head to head with the man he spent his childhood trying to mimic will be determined by the Australian and New Zealand governments, with a trans-Tasman Super Rugby final crossover still being discuss for this year.
Pasitoa grew up attempting to mirror Carter's game, while Brumbies coach Dan McKellar set his 18-year-old playmaker the task of watching videos of Canterbury Crusaders' pivot Richie Mo'unga to improve during the coronavirus lockdown.
Now he's itching for a chance to show how much progress he has made since getting a brief professional initiation before the competition was stopped in March.
"I just saw that before [about Carter] and it's pretty cool. He was definitely my biggest idol growing up and probably still is, it's awesome for the game of rugby that he's coming back," Pasitoa said.
"It was pretty surreal to be honest to see some pictures of him training. His kicking and composure ... he takes control of what he wants to do. Nine times out of 10 he executes it pretty well.
"I remember when I was younger I used to try to copy what he did. My dad grew up in New Zealand, we always watched the All Blacks play. I always looked up to [Carter]. If the opportunity comes to [play against him] it would be unreal. It's not every day you get a chance to meet your idol, let alone verse them in the game you love."
Pasitoa and the Brumbies are back to full training with in the hope plans for a domestic Australian competition will be finalised in the coming days. The Brumbies are expected to start the season against the Melbourne Rebels on July 3 or 4.
Pasitoa made his debut against the Otago Highlanders, becoming the second youngest player in Brumbies history to earn a Super Rugby cap.
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He's determined to add to his handful of minutes, teaming with Irae Simone in the Brumbies' isolation training to continue his development.
The Nudgee College product turned down offers from NRL clubs to pursue his rugby ambitions, adamant it has been the right decision despite Australian rugby's off-field woes.
"I love rugby, it's what I've always wanted to do and what my family and I watched when I was growing up. It's been a good decision and I'm loving it down in Canberra," Pasitoa said.
"My debut, probably the big thing that the belief that the boys and the staff had in me that I was able to step up a level and get out there so the big thing was my confidence and belief that I was ready.
"Another thing I learned on top of that was to always back myself, I'm a pretty confident person but having them believe in me probably helped that too so that's probably the two things."