Fullback Zarn Sullivan has rapidly risen to stardom for the Blues after his breakout season in 2021, leading him to be the first-choice fullback for the Auckland side.
While he has excelled at fullback, the youngster predominantly played at first-five throughout his schoolboy days and has hopes that he can return to his favoured position in the future.
“I’ve always got that in the back of my head, I know I can pay 10 personally but I think I just need to do my job at fullback at the moment and then if I get that opportunity I can step up as a 10,” he said on SENZ’s Blues Brothers.
“A few years ago when I was at school (I played there), and just having that leadership role on my shoulders again will be a bit different, but I’ll feel a little bit more comfortable.
“I give credit to Rangi (Leon MacDonald), he’s helped me a lot being a 15 himself. He’s helped me a lot with field positioning, where I can pop up, and just trying to get the ball in my hands.
“(I’ve got to) try and use my size to penetrate the line, or if I’m looking at corners, putting it in the corner and try to suffocate them (the opposition) down the other end.
“No.10 is probably where I want to end up later in my career, but at the moment it is just me nailing what I can do and nailing my job, and helping the people around me.”
The 21-year-old is in his second season of Super Rugby and has had plenty of learnings so far in is career, however he feels the insertion of rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck into the Blues backline this year has had the biggest impact on his game on and off the field.
“His footwork is unreal. Going up against him in drills and seeing him with the ball in hand is unreal. It’s just about me trying to grow my footwork as well instead of trying to swerve around people,” he said.
“He just brings a really professional vibe into the group. He’s really professional in what he does with his recovery, his homework and his prep before trainings and games.
“I think it’s just really well done. (For me) it’s just trying to pick his brain.”
Sullivan will hope that he can take some inspiration from Tuivasa-Sheck this weekend, as the Blues head into the ‘Battle of the Bombays’ against the Chiefs on Saturday night.
The match is set to begin at 7:05pm NZT at FMG Stadium Waikato.