Each day NRL.com will bring you a behind-the-scenes look at what is happening in the respective All Stars camps. Today, Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei takes us into the NRL All Stars camp.
First training run
The time difference got me this morning. I woke up at 4 o'clock – 7 o'clock back home – but it was good to get out early and train with all these great players from different teams.
I'm rooming with big Dave Taylor so there's no room in my room any more! He's a big boy and it will be good to get to know him as the week goes on.
This morning we were just trying to get a hang of having the ball in our hands again and go through a few plays attack-wise and a few moves for Friday.
I'm on the same side of the field as Jarrod Croker and you sort of know how they like to play from watching them during the season but when you come into camp you just ask him what he normally does, especially in defence. Whatever your centre does in defence I just have to follow and back him up every time.
Tickets are available for the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars at ticketek.com.au/allstars
Team photographs
It was a good time to meet up with the Indigenous boys. I think this game means a bit more to them than it does for us but I'm just honoured to be a part of it.
I'm good friends with a few of the boys in the Indigenous team so it was good to meet up with them.
I don't know whether Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has got the best hair in the team but he's definitely got the biggest head! He's a crack-up Jared, he's an awesome guy to get along with and I've had a great time with him in the Kiwi side over the years and he's a great person to have in the team.
Meeting the fans
Getting out and giving back to the fans is a massive part of the week and something I really enjoy. A lot of people here don't get the chance to meet some of these top players very often so for us to come out is great, especially for the kids. It's always nice to see a smile on the kids so hopefully we can do that every time.
The whole team went out to Harvey Norman in the afternoon to sign autographs and get some photos, I think a few of the boys even went shopping afterwards for some new headphones!
There were a few fans at training this morning as well – I don't know how they found out we were training there – but it was good to see some kids there. Hopefully they can be future NRL and All Stars players.
Someone's happy to meet @ManuVatuvei :) #NRLAllStars #NRL pic.twitter.com/TPz9klnscr
— NRL (@NRL) February 9, 2015
The kids from Runaway Bay RLFC hanging out with @JWH_755 at this morning's #NRLAllStars training session. pic.twitter.com/oFzBQjN3Ey
— NRL (@NRL) February 8, 2015
Team dinner
I think all the dinner arrangements were sorted before we came into camp but if I had to pick we'd be straight to McDonald's!
We'll have lunch and dinner together as a team every day and tonight we're going out to have Chinese at Zen restaurant, so it should be good.
Tickets are available for the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars at ticketek.com.au/allstars
