The New Zealander only arrived in Wagga on Wednesday, but has been thrust into the team to tackle Group 10 heavyweights Oberon at the West Wyalong Knockout on Friday.

The Tigers, led by former Young captain-coach Luke Branighan, have signed front rower Josh Starling straight out of the NRL.

However Ratu isn’t worried about the former Newcastle player or anyone else he will come up against at annual pre-seaason event.

Instead he’s just looking forward to getting back on the paddock

“I’ve been getting a bit itchy waiting to get back into it,” Ratu said.

“I just want to play.”

Ratu will have one training run under his belt before putting on a Kangaroos jumper for the first time.

However he’s been told plenty about what to expect for the weekend ahead.

“I’ve heard that it is one to look forward to and the Knockout is pretty mean,” he said.

“Talking to Chris (Jordan) he said it was a competition to look forward to so I’ve come over here looking to have the whole experience and play some good players.”

Despite a limited preparation, Ratu is ready to play.

He’s set to come off the bench for his first hit out with Kangaroos and isn’t too worried about coming in with very little preparation with his new teammates.

“It won’t be too bad,” Ratu said. “I think rugby league is rugby league.

“It doesn’t change too much wherever you go, the game is still the same.

“It’s just the players who make it good or not.”

Ratu has a plethora of experience in his homeland, including representing New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Residents in the past two seasons.

The chance to something different and live in Australia with young family was the catalyst for the change.

And while he’s only new to the club, Ratu can’t believe how welcoming Kangaroos have been to his wife and their four children.

“The club has been really good and I really haven’t been treated like this anywhere else,” he said.

“I’ll just try to make sure I can bring something to the team and hope for the best.”

Kangaroos have one of the hardest first round draws but captain-coach Ben Jeffery wants his team to embrace the challenge and believes it will be a great chance to gauge where their team is at.

Kangaroos will have different looking front row this season with former Brothers forward Sione Niuila and the returning Warren Lloyd named to start against Oberon