Now it is the Highlanders who are piling the gratitude on Tony Brown, for helping bail them out of their injury crisis.
When Brown was a nipper at Kaitangata, he sliced the tendons in his hand on a pane of glass. The injury was so grievous there was talk of amputation.
But Brown's nana did not agree and through her persistence, the youngster's hand was saved.
His grasp is impaired, but not his courage - just the sort of ingredient Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph went looking for when his two nominated first five-eighths, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga, fell to injury.
Brown puts his 36-year-old body on the line in attack and defence. He knows if he can nudge himself or some team-mates over the advantage line, it is a massive start.
Equally, on defence he wants to shut down his opponents before they hit that part of the track. Does he like tackling? Is it cold in Kaitangata in winter?
Brown's impact will be a much different package for the Blues to confront than that from Danny Cipriani, of the Rebels, a week ago.
The English pivot has great speed, a feel for space and is a superb goalkicker. But he will drift back into the pocket and too often is a tackling turnstile.
But Brown? There has been growing speculation with the five-eighths' injury toll that he he could be a wildcard World Cup pick. Don't put any razoos on that but for now, he is the best Highlanders wildcard.
- Wynne Gray
