As he dryly pointed out, it did not take much to work out he and Williams would be paired in the second row.
It was still "pretty special" when he heard his name read out in the team room this week.
He held his breath a touch until his surname became public.
"It takes a while to get over excitement," he said. "I tried to contain it but could not wait to get out of the room and let my parents know."
At the start of the year, Hoeata did not even consider making the All Blacks.
His concentration was on getting regular work with the Highlanders.
He moved to lock after thinking he was a loose forward who could cover. His physical development had been a slow burn, he took some time to fill out as he continued to play sports like volleyball in the summer.
When he made the national sevens side, he saw how hard players had to work, he understood the work needed to get to the next level in his rugby.
"I find playing lock a little easier, a little bit more straightforward," he said.
"My job is to clear rucks hard and tackle hard and if you get a chance with the ball run hard."
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was able to give him some extra tips and hints as he had been used in similar roles in his playing days.
"He just helped all the way, he was similar."
Like Williams, Hoeata had a spell in Canterbury where he soaked up the knowledge from local legends like Reuben Thorne before moving on because of the glut of loose forwards in the region.
He kept going, changing roles too until he hit gold this year.
"I'm someone who needs game time to get my fitness and confidence up. I got tired in a couple of games this year but I've had a break now and I'm ready. I don't want too much time off."
Hoeata's aggression and abrasiveness are pillars of his game but he knows he has to curb his discipline and will have that patience tested tonight.
In the past he would chase rivals to get square during games but had curbed that reaction as his game matured.
Someone whose game matured then stagnated through injury was his locking partner Williams. Now he is back in black and a little twitchy.
"I am keen. It is an opportunity for me to show people I can still hack it at this level," he said.
"It is an opportunity for me to still try and reach the ultimate goal, which I have had for some time, which is to achieve greatness in the jersey not only for myself but for the team."
The past few weeks had been a hectic whirl of emotion, travel, homework and a homecoming.
"I have been grasping the new game plans and moves and it won't be until [test day] that I will be wound right into it. I had forgotten a lot. Things have changed since I was there. I have most noticed the increased professionalism, the drive not just to be All Blacks but to leave a real legacy and add to it."
He is not looking to mentor Hoeata much, they both need to concentrate on their duties and get energy from each other and work together.
The trick was not to get isolated. Williams planned to tailor his skills to fit the game plan rather than his locking partner. His responsibilities were different from some of the things he did with the Blues.
He had often wondered in the past two years if he would even play rugby, let alone make the All Blacks.
There were many dark days but the lure of more time in the All Black uniform drove him.
"I want to achieve greatness," he said.
"You can't be great and not win a World Cup and lose games, it is both personal and a team thing.
"Do I want to be the guy sitting in the squad who plays Fiji then helps them train or the guy running out each week. I know what the answer is."
