Giant Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has vowed to start 2012 with a bang when he lines up for the NRL All Stars in the annual clash against the Indigenous All Stars on February 4.
The New Zealand international will be joined at Skilled Park by countrymen Adam Blair, Frank Pritchard and Tony Williams on one of the most imposing interchange benches ever assembled.
"I'm really excited, it's a bit of an experience I think and a good opportunity for myself and a lot of the Kiwi boys," Waerea-Hargreaves told Sportal.
"As soon as I heard that I was selected in the top four for the Chookies I sort of had some hope there."
"I was actually going to buy an All Stars jersey and I just said to my girlfriend Chelsea 'shall I buy this jersey and hopefully give it to whoever makes it from the Roosters to get it signed'?"
"And she said 'oh that's a stupid idea, why don't you just train harder'?"
"Funnily enough I'm the one representing the Chookies and playing for the All Stars, so I'm really excited and it should be a good week."
Asked where All Stars selection rates against the chance to represent his homeland, the 10-Test prop replied: "It's up there ... I asked Shaun Kenny-Dowall what the week's like because he made it last year and he said 'it's one of the best weeks of my footy career' so I'm really looking forward to it and bonding with the boys and (NRL All Stars coach) Wayne Bennett."
"The game will be massive, the Indigenous side's a good side and we've got some great players on our side and some big boys also so I'm really looking forward to it."
Having made his debut for Manly in 2009 before joining the Tri Colours the following season, the 23-year-old is one of the players to watch this season.
"Fingers crossed it's going to be a good year," he said.
"I'm feeling fresh. I had a good break and back in the swing of things now. I've been back three weeks now and really enjoying it."
"A couple of goals are just to have fun, learn as much as I can and stay injury free."
The likable prop is equally upbeat about the Tri Colours' chances of turning things around after a disastrous 2011 campaign.
"I'm really enjoying my time at the Chookies, we've done some good bonding with all the boys there and we're just really looking forward to the season," he said.
"We're just trying to all stay on the same page and just try and gel as a unit."
"We're really enjoying our time, loving training, everyone's rocking up three hours earlier than what we're supposed to and it's really good and hopefully we go well."