Tasesa Lavea wants 2006 to be the year he takes his game to the next level.

The 26-year-old with the uncanny ability to create space for his outsides is determined to play a bigger role in determining the Blues' success.

I agree it's time to move forward. It's been a couple of years now and I have put some good performances in here and there but it is time to be consistent in my performances over a whole year, said Lavea.

It comes back to working hard on weaknesses as there is no point on working on strengths when you have weaknesses.

He wants to take his sparkling late season form that helped guide Auckland to the 2005 NPC title into the Blues campaign.

The key is to enjoy myself. In the past I got a bit tense and tied up in the occasion so I took a different approach myself to be more relaxed. It helps that I am happy off the field with my family, friends and my partner, so I feel relaxed when I play.

The competitive squad assembled by Blues Head Coach David Nucifora and his staff will challenge all the players to perform to their best at all times.

Lavea said he is looking forward to the challenges he will encounter this season.

I've been a professional player since I was 18 and first-five is a crucial position. If I get an opportunity I will take it, but Luke McAlister plays there as well and he's a class player, so there is a bit of competition.

Hopefully they might play him one wider at second-five, he laughed.

Lavea's rugby league background is well known, with three appearances for the Kiwis in 2000-2001 and successful career with NRL team, the Melbourne Storm.

But he hasn't played league for nearly four years and has had enough of the references.

League is in the past and I've always been a rugby player through the junior ranks. I was just fortunate enough I got scouted at a young age and played over there for three or four years.

I guess people will say I'm a leaguie playing rugby but I'm really a rugby player through and through now.