The role of a lifetime: Reece ready for whatever Mal throws at him

From fierce rivals during the season to teammates at the end of the season, Reece Robson is determined to learn all he can from Harry Grant and Ben Hunt in Kangaroos camp.

The tenacious hooker has been rewarded for a sensational season with the Cowboys and NSW Origin with a spot in Mal Meninga's squad for the Pacific Championships, and he is relishing the chance to spend time in the company of the elite.

“Harry and Benny are both great players, Benny being able to play a couple of positions too is very vital to the team,” Robson said.  

“Harry had a great season so obviously, yeah, a couple of great No.9s there.  

“Whenever you get into these camps you're surrounded by a lot of great players, Harry being another hooker like myself, you definitely pick their brain a little bit and then pick up things from their game that you could add to your own.  

“Just being around those types of players, you definitely take a lot out of it. 

“Cohesion comes pretty quick in these games, everyone gets in and because you played a lot against each other, I guess you pick up as much playing against players as you do playing with them. 

"Just happy to be here and a part of it, and do my role, as much as that's going to be, or as little as that's going to be for the team, I'm ready to take it.” 

After playing 23 of 26 games for the Cowboys and all three games for the Blues as they downed the Maroons 2-1 in Origin, Robson had the runs on the board when Meninga weighed his spine combinations.

“You obviously dream to be a part of these teams but yeah, you never really expect it until that call comes,” Robson said. 

“There's obviously a lot of great players in the game, and yeah, when that call come obviously, I was over the moon. 

"You never really see these things coming, but when they do, you’re happy to grab it with both hands.” 

A year ago Robson got a taste of the green and gold when he represented the PM's XIII in Port Moresby alongside the likes of Hunt, Zac Lomax, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reuben Cotter, Cameron Murray and Tom Dearden, who have all joined him in the Kangaroos squad.

“That was a great experience [PMS XIII] over there, just to sort of be a part of I guess, obviously not the Australian side, but a part of the sort of the squad kind of thing,” Robson said. 

“Sort of get a feel what was like being coached under Mal and the coaching staff over there and that was a great experience.  

“Just playing alongside a lot of the boys too over there I took a lot away from that.  

“Definitely sort of gives you a little bit of insight of what these camps are going to be like when you do get into them.” 

The Kangaroos open their Pacific Championships campaign against Tonga on Friday and Robson is champing at the bit for a Test debut.

"Playing for Australia means everything, it's the pinnacle of the game, being able to perform in that green and gold jersey for an Australian playing in the NRL,” said Robson. 

“So yeah, to be able to get that opportunity, it's a pretty surreal feeling.

"We'll probably get more into depth later in the week and I'll find out what Mal needs from me out of this camp.  

“And, yeah, I'll be ready to do whatever is needed.”