"It's great that we've now actually signed the contract and I am now back on the field of play," he said. "I'm happy here at the Blues and things are certainly moving forward and I hope we can again reach the heights of last season. Dai [Young, Blues coach] has looked after me well which has helped me carry on throughout the seasons.

"When you play eight or ten international games on top of the regional matches it does take its toll on the body. The rehabilitation went well over the summer so I was pleased to come back within 12 weeks of the operation."

"The complexity of Super Rugby is that it is a short competition," he said. "You can play yourself in and out of form in Europe, here you've got to be on song from the first week to the end."

"People would like to compare and look at the past and look at what individuals offered, but this is a new team on a new journey," he told AAP. "It's really exciting from that aspect. "It's important for us to appreciate the people who have played for the club and always we will appreciate them and reflect on what they've done but we've got to move on now and have moved on. They've moved on to different pastures, too."