At 194cm and 115kg, dreadlocked Canterbury star Jamal Idris is hard to upstage.

Certainly Idris cut a commanding figure when he strode to the Australian team photo shoot at Skilled Park on Monday ahead of Friday night's trans-Tasman Test.

But Idris claimed he had to take a backseat on the night he found out he had been picked to make his Test debut against New Zealand.

While bursting with the news, Idris initially bit his tongue for fear of stealing the limelight from his beloved grandmother Mae Simon.

"I found out at my nan's 80th (birthday party) back in Forster," Idris said.

"But I actually didn't tell her until after the (Sunday) night was done because I didn't want to wreck her day - it's her day."

His grandmother's wise counsel had been a catalyst for Idris getting away from bad influences near his hometown on the NSW mid-north coast and furthering his rugby league career.

Idris may have kept his emotions in check on Sunday night but there was no holding back on Monday when he bounded into the Australian camp.

He was still beaming after being named on the Test bench in yet another stunning career coup - and at only 19.

"It is a bit of a rollercoaster and I am up pretty high at the moment," Idris said.

"But I have to watch out because there is always going to be lows.

"You just got to appreciate it when you are up."

It seemed fitting that he soaked up his latest success at Skilled Park.

Barely a month ago Idris announced the venue would be his new home ground from 2012 after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth $1.8 million.

"I guess I am going to have to get used to it," Idris said of the the Titans' home.

"I always love playing here because it is a fast ground."

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