North Queensland man mountain Griffin Neame once travelled over the Southern Alps of New Zealand to pursue his rugby league career, which is why the clash in Christchurch against the Warriors means so much to him.
The 25-year-old New Zealand international was born in Greymouth and played his junior for Suburbs RLC. As he got older he would make the 240km, four-hour trek with his father along the Great Alpine Highway to play and train in Christchurch.
On Sunday afternoon the towering 193cm and 106kg prop will play at Christchurch's new state-of-the-art stadium, Te Kaha, where he insists the proposed 20th NRL side should be based.
The stadium is fully roofed and a posse of Neame's family and friends will be in the 25,000-strong crowd at the sold-out match.
