Mils Muliaina kisses his son Max after returning to New Zealand with the All Blacks. Photo / Dean Purcell
Emotional new dad Mils Muliaina summed up his arrival home from the All Blacks' triumphant Grand Slam tour in a couple of heartfelt words - "nothing better".
The 28-year-old fullback greeted wife Hayley and six-week-old son Max at Auckland International Airport yesterday after helping his team achieve a
clean sweep against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.
Muliaina said being away from his young family for three weeks was a sacrifice, but it was gratifying to have achieved the Grand Slam.
"I can't wait to get in the car, go home and sleep in my own bed."
"Winning the Grand Slam was pretty special too," he joked.
Leaving his family was "all part of rugby.
"I'm just a new kid at this - we've got some guys in the team who do it year in, year out."
Muliaina had to leave home just after receiving the news that Max needed an operation to fix a hole in his heart.
The surgery is to be done by Christmas.
Despite the worries at home, Muliaina's tour was a great end to a successful year.
He was named Man of the Match in last weekend's test against England, and is widely regarded as the best fullback in the world.
Hooker Keven Mealamu - who was met by his wife Latai and children Samuel and Maia - said the Grand Slam was " a really good way to finish the year" after the All Blacks' earlier successes against Australia and South Africa.
The team arrived home without captain Richie McCaw and coach Graham Henry, who stayed in London for the announcement of pools for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
