ANDY TUALA admits it was daunting when he first joined the NSW Waratahs on a training contract 12 months ago.
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Now that he knows what to expect, the powerhuse former Wanderers hooker is confident of taking his game to a new level.
Tuala made two Super Rugby appearances off the bench last season when Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu was suspended. He continued to work with the squad and did enough to earn a full-time contract for 2020.
Now he has some certainty, the 28-year-old intends to rip in even more.
"It took a while but I just had to be patient,"Tuala said. "Hopefully I can take another step. That is always the plan, to move up another level.
"I gained a a lot of experience and to be signed for another season is even better. I will get to learn off the best coaches. Having been in the system, I know the what to expect and the standards they demand at training."
For much of last season, Tuala commuted from Newcastle each day for training.
However, his family have now relocated to Sydney, cutting the travel by a third.
"All the travelling up and down from Newcastle ... this has made it all worth it," he said. "We are all together now. I don't have to wake up at 4am to leave by 5am and beat the traffic.I can focus on getting there and doing my thing at training."
Tuala has resigned with Norths for a fourth season in the Shute Shield. New NSW Waratahs coach Rob Penney has been impressed by Tuala's commitment and drive.
"Andrew has shown that he's a character who will take on any challenge to reach his [Super Rugby] goal," Penney said. "He is another player who has excelled at Shute Shield level and was rewarded last year with Super Rugby debut."
"That connection between Sydney club rugby and the [NSW] Waratahs is so important.
"In speaking with the coaching team it's clear that Andrew's made significant progress within a professional program last season, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can achieve in 2020."
His stints in Sydney club rugby - he was West Harbour's player of the year in consecutive seasons - followed a premiership with in Newcastle with Wanderers in 2014.
He returned after a nine-week lay-off with a knee injury for NSW Country in the National Rugby Championships, playing the final four games.
"To make my debut last year was a dream come true," Tuala said.
"It's something I worked really hard to achieve and to tick that box was really satisfying, now the challenge is continuing to improve.
"It was disappointing to get injured [before NRC] but I feel great now and the last few games of the competition were a great platform for [Super Rugby] pre-season.
"The physio monitored my minutes. He didn't want to have an setback with the knee. It felt better with every game.
"We've got a great group of guys here at the [NSW] Waratahs and it's an exciting period for everyone as we get ready for 2020."
