Over the years rugby league has had its share of weird and wonderful stories of how players have broken news of their selection in representative squads, but Te Maire Martin might just be the first ever to have announced it via Snapchat.
In the minutes which followed a conversation with Kiwis coach David Kidwell, confirming his spot on the end-of-year tour, the 21-year-old rookie first tried the more conventional method of a phone call to parents Greg and Lesley.
But when he couldn't get through to them he instead spun his phone around and sent off a photo message through the social media app, revealing the good news.
"It was proving quite hard to get them on the phone, so I ended up just sending them a Snapchat," the unassuming Martin told NRL.com.
"They didn't answer the phone and must have been at work or something.
"I thought they would probably be checking their Snapchat more than anything else, and sure enough a few minutes after I sent it they called me back.
"They were the first ones I contacted… It sort of took me a little while to tell them, because I was coming to terms with it myself.
"I ended up sitting in the living room for a while and just thought about it all."
When quizzed about the photo, Martin revealed it was a low-key "shot of the TV set, with the caption 'I just made the Kiwis.'"
After hearing the news both Greg and Lesley immediately made plans to travel to England, and since arriving have been regulars at mid-week training sessions held by the Kiwis.
For them the trip is a rare opportunity to watch their son in action, given they live in rural New Zealand while Te Maire is in Australia where he plays for the Penrith Panthers.
"We would never come to England unless there was a reason, but this New Zealand side is a legendary team, and it is just good to be here with them," Greg told NRL.com.
"Even if Te Maire doesn't get a game it is OK.
"If I had won the lottery or I was rich enough I would have shouted the whole family a trip over here to watch too, they would all love to be here."
Considering he hadn't played an NRL match since April, after a displaced shoulder suffered in Round 8 stalled his NRL career just six games in, Martin was a shock inclusion in New Zealand's final 24 for the 2016 Four Nations.
Coach Kidwell has made it clear his intention is to keep Martin in a 'development role' which may not include any game time, but stated he wouldn't hesitate to call on the Junior Kiwi graduate if required.
The experience so far has been "pretty overwhelming" according to Martin, who said he was making the most of spending time with the likes of Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai and Issac Luke
"Thomas has been my roomie for the tour, so I have been hanging out with him a lot, and it has been cool watching him at training and seeing all the little stuff he does," Martin said.
"Obviously Shaun is a freak at everything so I have been enjoying that too.
"Time is going a bit fast for my liking though, I'd like to slow it down if I could control that.
"But I am just going to soak it all in and see how it goes."
New Zealand face Australia this Sunday morning (AEDT) as part of the Four Nations double-header at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
This article first appeared on NRL.com.
