Brett: I had to get out of Carter's shadow

JOHN SELKIRK/Auckland Bureau

TRUE BLUE: Blues coach Pat Lam with players Stephen Brett (left) and Keven Mealamu at the 2010 Super 14 squad naming in Auckland.

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Stephen Brett felt he had no option but to turn his back on the Crusaders because he didn't want to play second-fiddle to returning superstar Dan Carter.

Brett's move to the Blues for 2010 via the draft was confirmed when the five New Zealand squads were named at a lavish function in Auckland on Wednesday.

Brett's shift north had been widely ear-marked but never explained until the player and his new coach Pat Lam opened up on the reasons why a red and black heart suddenly turned Blue.

Put simply, he reflects the growing professionalism in the new generation of New Zealand players. He had taken precautions to ensure he could get on to the field rather than sit on the bench as Carter gets set to return to the Super 14 after missing this year's tournament because of his French sabbatical.

"It's about getting the game time I need to play," emphasised Brett. "I knew DC was coming back when I signed my contract a couple of years ago so obviously I had that buy-out clause and I've utilised it by going into the draft."

The 23-year-old Brett said he never considered moving overseas and was determined to try to fulfil his dream of being an All Black.

"I have got high ambitions and I just need a good Super 14 and hopefully that will come.

"I could have gone anywhere but the Blues was the first choice because of the opportunities. I'm looking forward to coming here. It's been a long process," he said standing in a Blues playing uniform.

Brett admitted he had got "a bit of a ribbing" about heading north from family and friends but they were behind his decision once they understood his reasoning.

"I've been red and black for a long time now but I've got to see what's the best for my career and the move to the Blues is the best thing I could do. The red and blacks know that I love red and black country. But I'm a Blues player now, I've got to take some blue into my veins now."

Brett said having a brief spell in the All Blacks' wider training squad this year had helped him and he was happy with the form he had shown in guiding Canterbury to the Air New Zealand Cup title last Saturday night.

"Getting that little touch of it gave my confidence a good boost. I just grew from there and that led into the Air New Zealand Cup. Being injury-free has helped, too."

Ironically Brett made his Super 14 debut against the Blues in 2006 and has accumulated 39 caps since then, scoring 164 points for the Crusaders and being part of two of their championship-winning squads. In Carter's absence he was the playmaker that took them to this year's semifinals. He also has 45 appearances for Canterbury.

Lam was delighted to finally land his big catch. The Blues coach felt he had done enough to lure Brett north but nothing was confirmed until the draft process was worked through over the past two days as the five Super 14 coaches gathered in Auckland to sort out the last pieces of their jig-saws.

"It's no secret that once Todd (Blackadder) said Steve would go into the draft and that Steve wanted to go to get some game time, we were very keen to get him," said Lam.

"You never know till you get there but he was always going to be our fist pick and we are really pleased that he is here."

Lam said he had sounded out Brett early about coming north to Eden Park.

"It's important to know if they are keen to come or not. He was keen. He had a great season for Canterbury, he's experienced at Super 14 level, been part of titles. But he's ambitious and wants to go further and that's part of our role here - to give all our guys a go at higher honours."

Brett's shift north was part of a tricky draft equation among the spare No 10s around the country. And the Blues were central to it.

Not only did they gain Brett but they also surprisingly gave up Auckland first five-eighths Daniel Bowden to the Crusaders and instead chose to lure Wellington playmaker Daniel Kirkpatrick.