Tayler Adams made two career-changing moves last year and they're already starting to pay off.
Firstly, fresh out of Auckland's Kelston Boys' High School, he upped sticks and headed for Invercargill at the start of 2012 on the recommendation from a couple of his former first XV teammates and the persuasion of Southland's academy manager Peter Skelt.
Then he decided to focus his energy on playing halfback despite being a five-eighth, with some success, at schoolboy level.
Adams had played sparingly at the base of the scrum in his maiden season in the Kelston first XV as a year 11 but pivot was where he used to call home.
Fast forward the better part of 21 months and the 19-year-old has played for the New Zealand under-20s, made his first-class debut and ascended to being the first-choice halfback for the Stags.
When Adams arrived in the deep south he expected to tag along to a few training sessions with Southland after finishing his club campaign with Star but ended the season in Southland's playing 22 following the departure of the Cowan brothers, Jimmy and Scott.
It was a rapid rise through the ranks for the 1.76m and 81kg sport and exercise student, even if he is still coming to terms with pulling on the No 9 jersey every week.
"I've just grown to love it," Adams said. "Sometimes when I look at it and when I talk to people I think 'gee why do I play halfback, all I do is run from side to side'. But when I'm on the field that's what I love doing. I love being around the ball and being close to the action so I think that's where I'll stay."
Adams' debut came in Southland's record-setting 84-0 loss to Canterbury in Christchurch in round 11 of last year's ITM Cup and it's a day he remembers clearly.
"I try not to think about it too often," he said with a laugh. "I still cop a little bit of stick about it from my mates. It was a tough one because it was my debut, so I was excited about that but no-one likes getting beaten by 80 points. So there was mixed emotions on the day."
Things haven't been rosy in Stags country this year but they did manage to get their first win on the board when they edged Waikato 20-16 last Friday in a rousing come-from-behind effort.
Adams was thankful he didn't receive a burst from coach David Henderson in the changing rooms after he was sent to the sin bin with the game in the balance in the 69th minute.
"He didn't say too much. I was a bit worried but thankfully he just said 'think a bit smarter next time' and that was pretty much it. So I was thankful for that."
With a snappy pass, useful kicking game from his days spent at No 10 and a high workrate, Adams is a fast-improving player and Southland's next challenge comes in the form of Manawatu in Palmerston North tonight. (fri)
Both teams are languishing near the base of the Championship and would dearly love a win to get their season on track.
"It's going to be a real testing game for us," Adams said. "But I think with the confidence that we are taking in from the last game and the game plans we have set, I think we should be fine."
Southland will be without regular skipper Jamie Mackintosh, who was suspended for stamping during last Friday's win over Waikato, and lock Josh Bekhuis will be in charge tonight.
Manawatu have made two changes to their starting XV who beat North Harbour last Sunday with Papa Wharewera set to start at halfback ahead of Nic Stirzaker, while Chiefs wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma is in the run-on side with Junior Tomasi Cama unavailable.
