Ryan Hoffman says nothing changes for him as he prepares to kick-start his third Vodafone Warriors campaign tomorrow facing his former club Melbourne.
The trial at Sunshine Coast Stadium at Kawana Waters (5.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT) launches his 15th first-grade season in all stretching back to his rookie season with the Storm in 2003.
Back then new Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney was his team-mate and later worked with Hoffman in a coaching capacity at Melbourne.
Now the coach-player liaison is revived as the 33-year-old Hoffman readies himself for an NRL season which provides the lure of his 300th NRL career appearance later in the programme (he has played 286 games so far).
Hoffman begins without the captaincy role he had last year following the announcement that fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will have the reins this season.
“That makes no difference to me. Nothing changes on or off the field. I'm a professional rugby league player and the focus for a professional rugby league players is getting results,” he said.
"Rugby league is a selfless game and my focus is on supporting Roger, supporting the team and making sure my performance is 100 per cent.
"It's disappointing (not having the captaincy) because I enjoy playing for this club and leading the club but Roger is going to be an extremely enthusiastic captain."
Kearney, Hoffman and assistant coach Andrew McFadden provide a strong Melbourne flavour for the Vodafone Warriors as former Storm players.
