By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors' Monty Betham and his good mate Henry Perenara, of the Storm, ring each other regularly to exchange banter in a good-natured rivalry in which the pair compare try-scoring feats and other benchmarks.
They both wore the No 13 jersey for the Kiwis this season, Perenara against France and Betham coming off the bench.
Betham was the lock against Australia and Perenara was unable to force his way into that team.
But Perenara will be back - and Betham knows it.
The pair have scored five tries each in an NRL season during which both have improved performance substantially.
The banter has stopped this week as a measure of the respect they have for each other and of the pressure on both as they prepare for the Warriors-Storm game at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne on Monday night.
The pair had an hour-long phone conversation last weekend but this game was rarely mentioned.
"Didn't want to give him any ammo, and he probably felt the same way," Betham said.
The 23-year-old from Onehunga was this week voted the player others would least like to mix it with in the Rugby League Week magazine's player poll.
That is because of his ancestry - his father was a former Commonwealth boxing champion - and because of the black belt he holds in karate.
But Betham, while determined that he will not take a step backward or watch on while team-mates are intimidated, is not there for a scrap.
He is enjoying the improvement in his game which his increased effort, and the guidance from coach Daniel Anderson, is bringing.
"I've gained a lot of confidence in my own ability this season," Betham said.
"Belief in myself. For that I have to thank Daniel and [assistant coach] Tony Kemp."
Betham said the weekly individual video review the coaches conduct with the Warriors had helped him pinpoint areas where he could eliminate mistakes and improve gains.
But at the same time, he had been told to play his natural game and to go out and enjoy his football.
"I'm still learning and there's a lot of improvement to come," he said.
He has also learned from hooker Jason Death, the Australian import whose place he has finally taken, and is thankful for Death's input.
The Storm's Kiwi hooker, Richard Swain, has also offered advice.
Betham is making better gains out of dummy-half now, picking the right times to run at retreating forwards.
And close to the line, there is a good chance he will back himself and put his great leg-drive into action, his big thighs pumping his 94kg frame through or under multiple tacklers.
Betham has really enjoyed the past few games.
He said the 15,000 fans at Ericsson Stadium last weekend sounded like 20,000 or more and the team were lifted accordingly.
But afterwards, the dressing-room and team dinner were quiet.
"We're not finished yet and everyone knows it," he said.
"From a personal point of view I don't want to finish just short."
The Warriors can cement a finals spot in Melbourne on Monday.
That, and a desire to get one back over the Storm for the 40-20 victory the visitors scored earlier this season, are sufficient motivation, he says.
"Their forwards got over us last time. We don't want to let that happen again.
"We just need to keep on doing what we've been doing.
"We need to give Stacey [Jones] some room," he said, agreeing that the little general had been sparking the side with his inspirational bursts.
Betham's Storm connections continue past Perenara and Swain: his Kiwi room-mate for the Australian test was Storm second rower Stephen Kearney.
When the two were speaking to each other this week, the conversation went straight to the Monday decider that could put the Warriors in playoffs and the Storm out.
"I told him I wasn't going to get into any talk about it. I didn't want to give him anything to fire him up," Betham said.
Anderson is confident the Warriors will not collapse in the face of the Storm.
"I'm confident that we will be more than competitive."
Rugby League: When mates become fierce rivals
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