All Blacks legend Dan Carter's arrival at the Blues franchise had resulted in young players not knowing whether to shake his hand or ask for his autograph.
But coach Leon MacDonald said it was one of the great attributes of New Zealand rugby that players wanted to give something back to the game.
Stephen Perofeta's injury woes that have blighted the early years of his career have resulted in Carter's call-up. Perofeta cracked a bone in his foot and is unlikely to be available to play until possibly the last round of the competition.
Carter said with sport cancelled around the world it was a crazy time but having returned from Japan he realised how much he missed rugby while also enjoying being back in New Zealand with his family.
While he hadn't replied immediately to Leon MacDonald's call to come in as an injury replacement, he said it was a great opportunity to be able to train and potentially play in a city his children were attending school.
It was also a chance to give something back to rugby and there was some great young talent at the Blues and was keen to help them develop.
Earlier approaches had been made to him when Graham Henry and John Kirwan had been coaching.
He said he had talked with MacDonald previously about possibly working with the kickers in an informal role, but his new position was more formal.
Carter said players were no different to the general public in missing sport as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and with a resumption, albeit in the changed Super Rugby Aotearoa, just around the corner it was an exciting time," he said.
Not having played for two months he said it wouldn't be a case of stepping into playing in the first few weeks.
"It's more about getting my body up to speed to be in contention to be selected," he said.
MacDonald said for Carter it reflected his character to give back to New Zealand rugby in the way he was.
"Our job here at the Blues, as it is with other franchises, is to try and produce All Blacks. We got a lot of pride promoting…and the All Blacks are the pinnacle of the game and what DC is doing is helping us on their trek. We've got some young talent in this team and they're going to thrive on having him around," he said.
Carter would have to go through the progressions to play, and he was starting three weeks behind the rest of the side.
"He's got a lot of work to get through before we start considering selection so don't expect to see DC on the rugby field in the early weeks by any stretch. We'll take our time and when he is ready to go it will be on a needs basis," he said.
Carter had signed as a utility and before playing he would be working with the kickers and game drivers.
He had been in touch with his father and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to talk about his decision of wearing the Blues colours and they were supportive of his move.
He hadn't given any thought to the prospect of possibly playing the Crusaders.
While he was helping out an old teammate, he was aware of the impact MacDonald was having with the side.
Carter said he was looking forward to lining up again with Beauden Barrett who was in the early stages of his career as they built up to their Rugby World Cup success in 2015.
"Just to see the way he has improved as a player and as a leader and one of the biggest names in international rugby at the moment, to work alongside him and even pick his brain for my learning will be something pretty exciting for me as well," he said.