AFTER hopping his way through to his eighth club, it was starting to look as though Blake Green was nearing the end of his career.

But, after an electrifying performance for the Warriors on Saturday night, it’s clear that the veteran five-eighth is actually still in career best form and his smorgasbord-like club history has brought nothing but good to his game.

The 31-year old’s cool, calm and collected style of playing was exactly what the Warriors needed to allow halves partner, Shaun Johnson to run amok with his flashy footwork and show us all exactly why he was the 2014 Golden Boot winner.

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Round 20

Green’s performance not only catapulted himself into the forefront of every league fan’s mind but it took Johnson along for the glory ride too.

The pair complimented each other perfectly and took advantage of each other’s strengths to form a halves force to be reckoned with.

The way Green steered the team with his level-headed decision making is a credit to his colourful club history and proved to be the missing piece to the Warriors puzzle.

Blake Green in action with Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

It comes off the back of a similar halves partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly last year, where Green’s addition to the squad freed up Cherry-Evans to play some of his most exciting footy.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Green though, despite the great qualities he brings to a team.

He hasn’t had the Billy Slater luxury of sticking with one club throughout his entire career, but if his actions on the field are anything to go by, it’s not something that has affected him in the slightest.

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Green’s journey is nothing like any of your Nathan Cleary and Angus Crichton style young guns that cemented their stardom in the game from the get go, even though his star did in fact shine bright early on.

As a young, budding footballer, he looked as though he would be in the next batch of superstars.

He captained the 2004 Australian Schoolboys team- a feat that almost guaranteed him a long and lustrous NRL career, especially given his fellow schoolboys teammate Greg Inglis went on to become one of the biggest names in the game.

Blake Green playing for the Bulldogs many years ago. Source: News Limited

Yet, Green’s career didn’t travel down the same path as Inglis’.

Instead it’s been somewhat closer to a slow burn. But nonetheless, it’s looking like he has finally found his place.

If we go by textbook NRL, with plenty of ripe young talent coming through, Green should be seeing out his final year or so at a club where he’s spent most of his career.

Or at the very least, looking towards retirement, starting his last couple of years off at a new club after a long stint elsewhere.

Instead, he’s just kicked off a three-year contract with his third club in three seasons and there’s no sign of him slowing down just yet. You could say he is the exception to the rule.

It’s his unique wealth of experience that’s setting apart from the rest.

Not the typical type of experience racked up from a solid ten years in the NRL dedicated to one club and not even the type of experience gained from playing for the state or country.

Richard Kennar gets tackled by Ken Maumalo and Blake Green. Source: Getty Images

Instead, it’s a rare type of experience that Manly are probably now kicking themselves for not seeing that’s only earnt from playing under seven different coaches and meshing with seven different teams over the past 10 years.

Without a doubt, the constant chopping and changing would be a challenge for any player, we see some halves combinations take a full season to finally find their groove, but for Green it’s been a blessing in disguise.

After playing under seven different coaches and meshing with as many teams, he has mastered the ability to adapt better than anyone else in the game and has demonstrated a level of resilience that deserves to be admired.

His new contract with the Warriors will be his longest one to date and after just one game, he’s given Warriors fans something to be excited about this year.

He’s brought a calm approach, commendable leadership skills and above all has brought out the best in their key playmaker.

If this combination continues to flourish, the Warriors will most certainly be lurking around come finals time, possibly even scoring themselves a top four finish.