Teihorangi Walden dipped his toe in the water, jumped in oh, so briefly, but was forced out with a sore head.
Walden, who turns 23 later this month, now wants to get back into the action and is in line to get a start for the Highlanders this week at second five-eighth.
He started off in the midfield in the opening game of the season against the Blues and scored a try in his debut.
But in the next game he took a head knock, was forced off the field and had to put his feet up.
Good performances by others had him waiting in the wings but he was called back into action last week, coming off the bench against the Brumbies.
With Rob Thompson picking up a concussion and Jason Emery suspended, Walden may be in line to get another start. It is one he is looking forward to.
‘‘It seems like a while ago I took the field against the Blues. I got the taste and wanted to get back out there as soon as possible,'' he said.
‘‘But I was just unfortunate with the head knock and had to take my time to recover and I missed a few weeks. But I have got the opportunity now and I'm really keen to get out there.
‘‘You don't want to go off. But you have got to be smart. There are a lot of head injuries around now and it is quite a serious injury. The doc is on to it and he knows what is best now.''
His head collided with a stray elbow as he attempted a tackle in the second game of the season against the Hurricanes.
Walden said Super rugby was a lot quicker and sharper than the level below but it helped being surrounded by quality players.
‘‘At this level you just have to look inside and outside you. You've got Lima Sopoaga inside you and you've got Malakai Fekitoa outside you, so you learn a lot.‘‘For me on defence, it is trusting the insides and outsides. I have to make my tackles and the rest will happen. Any questions and they are really willing to help.
‘‘The first game was a bit of a fright. The lungs got a bit of a blow-out. It is fast footy and very physical.''
‘‘At this level you really only have to do your own role. We have coaches around us who know their stuff and you have to listen and using all the resources available. You just have to put your best foot forward.''
Walden has just three papers to finish to get a bachelor of science degree specialising in geography and some papers in te reo Maori.
The former head boy at Francis Douglas Memorial College, he headed south on a Shell Oil Scholarship four years ago following the path of his older brother Josh and sister Mianna, who also came south for study.
Josh is still here, a teacher at Columba College, while Mianna is back in Taranaki, working as a lawyer.
The Waldens spoke te reo Maori exclusively at home when young.
‘‘I am proud to be Maori. I grew up in Otaki and spoke Maori at home until I was 4 years old. My brother Josh can speak Maori. We are quite lucky to be exposed from this part of the family.''
