Injury replacement Isaac John will look to heed his coach's advice and have a bit of fun when he steps out for the New Zealand Warriors against National Rugby League (NRL) leaders St George Illawarra here on Sunday.
John, who has been chosen at five-eighth, will make his first NRL appearance of the year, his call-up coming in the wake of halfback Brett Seymour's leg fracture in the 6-50 defeat away to Wests Tigers last Friday.
He will partner James Maloney in the halves, with Maloney swapping the No 6 jersey for the No 7, as he did when Seymour was out with a broken thumb earlier in the season.
Both players are in their NRL infancy, having made their debuts last year.
John has three games under his belt and Maloney 13, split between Melbourne and the Warriors.
Tokoroa-born John, 21, said coach Ivan Cleary's message to him ahead of the match against the Dragons at Mt Smart Stadium was to enjoy himself.
"It was to play basic, have fun and try to control the boys around the field," he said.
"I think his biggest message was just to have fun."
The Warriors have had to cope with a crowded casualty ward all season and John has been among those with injury woes.
He spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a foot problem and his return to action has comprised matches over the past two weeks for the Auckland Vulcans.
He was comfortable about stepping up from the New South Wales Cup to the NRL, having made an even bigger jump on his first-grade debut.
Last July, he went from playing in Auckland club league's Fox Memorial competition to travelling across the Tasman to face the Sydney Roosters and playing outside club legend Stacey Jones.
"That was a bigger step," he said. "It's a bit of a smaller hurdle this time."
John believed his added maturity would make him better prepared for the rigours of the NRL this time around.
"A bit of experience, a bit of a change in lifestyle, making sacrifices," he said.
"All that stuff and trying to be professional, and I think it's going to help me."
While he hasn't played with Maloney before, he had a good idea of how his new halves partner operated.
"I've watched a lot of how he's played this year," John said.
"I know how he plays so I'll try to adapt around him."
Cleary was confident that the untried pairing could do the business against the Dragons.
He said John had performed well for the Vulcans over the past fortnight and it was a case for him to keep things simple and play to his strengths.
"I just want him to play his natural game and be enthusiastic, which he will be," he said.
"He's just a bubbly guy who loves his football. All we ask of him is to play his game."
