Having missed all of the 2018 Super Rugby season, Blues playmaker Otere Black is hoping the new year will see a change of fortunes as he bids to make his return to rugby.
Stuck behind Beauden Barrett at the Hurricanes, Black moved north to the Blues ahead of the 2018 season, only to be struck down with a devastating knee injury playing for Manawatu - on the comeback trail ever since.
Now, though, Black is back and ready to pick up where he left off, likely to be handed the Blues' starting first-five position ahead of youngster Stephen Perofeta, with new coach Leon MacDonald looking to see the Auckland side off the bottom of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference.
Speaking to Stuff, Black opened up about his devastating run of injuries but says he's now fit and firing heading into Super Rugby 2019.
"It's made me appreciate things a lot more," Black said.
"I feel in a good space and I'm building confidence in my knee to have a bit of a step every now and again."
Black also credited his former Hurricanes teammate Beauden Barrett, explaining what he'd learned from sharing the pitch with the All Blacks' first choice first-five during his time in the capital.
"A lot of people only see the 80 minutes he puts out every weekend, but I got to see what he does Monday to Friday as well. The little things he does are world-class and you see it in his performance.
"And, as you can see, he has a pretty open-minded attacking brain. He likes to have a crack and is an impressive athlete too. He's quick and deceptively strong."
The Blues begin their 2019 Super Rugby campaign against none other than the back-to-back champion Crusaders, taking the field at Eden Park on February 16.
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