Luke Metcalf spent years learning from his halfback mentors but says he had to be his own man after taking Shaun Johnson's No.7 at the Warriors.
And it's working, the 26-year-old earning Johnson and coach Andrew Webster's approval after a man-of-the-match Magic Round performance improved his club to their equal-best seasons start since their 1995 inception.
The Sydney product scored twice in a dominant first half and then produced a try-saving tackle on a flying Murray Taulagi as the Warriors held off North Queensland to win 30-26.
They had led 30-12 with 25 minutes to play, hanging on despite having no ball or momentum to improve to 6-2 and ensure they finish the weekend no worse than third.
Webster praised his playmaker for the courage to attack the line and then front up in defence after proving his ability to manage the game already this season.
Johnson was gushing in commentary and the pair dissected Metcalf's performance in the sheds post-game.
"We get on really well off the field .... I became a dad about four weeks ago, so there's a lot of dad chat, but the other 70 per cent is about footy and quizzing him," Metcalf said of Johnson's mentorship.
"I'm so lucky to have him in my corner."
Metcalf has spent his young career learning off his senior partners, Daly Cherry-Evans and Chad Townsend chief among them during stints at Manly and Cronulla.
Johnson was at the Sharks too and is now the man Metcalf has replaced at the Warriors.
"Everyone saw what he can do with his feet, the stepping and the running," Metcalf said.
"Something he didn't get credit for was his footy nous and IQ; he was probably one of the most complete halfbacks.
"He could do everything."
So is it daunting to fill the boots of a New Zealand rugby league great?
"You've just got to have confidence in yourself and I knew it was something I always wanted to do, so you have to be your own man," Metcalf said.
"I've been at the point of annoying, a sponge asking that many questions about it (to senior halfbacks).
"I always wanted to step into the No.7 and when I did, wanted to be ready."
The Warriors only other 6-2 start came in 2018, when they eventually finished eighth and were knocked out in the first week of finals.
"We've seen glimpses … I love that we've got that mindset of chasing perfection," Metcalf said.
"We're probably never going to get there, but that's the right attitude."
