Picked on potential and plenty of raw ability, this season with the Highlanders was set to be one about about development and getting better for the 23-year-old. Tick a few boxes and then perhaps get a minute or two at some stage.
But following injuries to other players, a drop in form by one or two, and most of all, an ability to make the most of an opportunity that came around, Franklin has propelled himself into the Highlanders starting side.
The big Southern lock said the carrot of playing and starting never went away for him this season''I was seen as the fifth lock in the squad but the coaches have always said to me that the opportunity is there if I play well,'' he said.
So when Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis went down with injuries and Jarrad Hoeata lost some form, Franklin was the man who came forward.
''It was pretty cool to get a chance to start and it was a lot more physical and faster than what I had played in ITM Cup. But the structures are still the same and as long as you do your job, then it is still the same game.''
Franklin has always had the attributes, not that he has always believed it.
He was a lock for the victorious New Zealand under-20 team in Argentina in 2010.
''I thought I was out of my depth back then. But a lot of guys from there have come through to play first-class and we've got a few All Blacks.''
Of that 27 strong squad, 16 have gone on to play Super rugby and four - winger Julian Savea, halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, loose forward Luke Whitelock and prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen - have played for the All Blacks.
Franklin made his starting debut for the Highlanders last week, in their win over the Chiefs, and ran himself into the ground, helping the side to a crucial victory.
The man from Opotiki said a good, solid pre-season put him in a good frame at the start of the season.
''I worked really hard and Thorny [Brad Thorn] got involved and helped me a lot. I came into the season with a few more kegs [kg] and the fittest I have ever been.''
''That has helped me throughout the season, I think. I've still got a few niggles and a couple of things hurting but nothing which is going to stop me playing.''
The former St Paul's Collegiate pupil said starting or coming off the bench was not a lot different.
''When I start I tend to get quite nervous right through the day and thinking about the game all day. But when that first whistle goes, I'm right.
''When you're coming off the bench you never know when you are going to go on, so you have to be ready to go.''
Franklin, who headed back to Opotiki in the break last month, brought up his 50th club game for Southern this year and received a blazer after playing most of the first round but he was unlikely to see any more time in the Magpies jersey this year.
The 1.99m lock will get his second start of the season on Sunday, when the side takes on table-topping Waratahs in Sydney.
''We played them in pre-season and they are a pretty big team. Had some very big forwards. We need to meet them and it will be a good test for us.''
