Outside it being a once-in-a-lifetime trip Dubbo Kangaroos' Shaun McHugh and Harden Red Devils duo Aaron Seaman and Shahid Khalfan said that's the major takeaway from Central West's tour of New Zealand last week, which acts as part of the Blue Bulls' lead-up to this year's NSW Country Rugby Union Championship.

None of them played a part in last year's crushing Caldwell Cup decider loss to Illawarra but all three pushed their claims for the 2019 edition in a big way in New Zealand, and whether they make the final cut or not all three agreed simplicity is key to the Blue Bulls' title dream.

That's based on what they learned from the likes of the Crusaders and Canterbury's best mentors, all of whom stressed the ultimate way to succeed is to simply do the basics better than anyone else.

"We had that total experience of New Zealand rugby, being introduced to the Crusaders and their set-up and a real insight into the culture that kind of keeps them connected, which we used all week," Khalfan explained.

"And the session with the Canterbury coaches, male and female, was a great insight into such basic drills, which they all use. They just execute it all so well," McHugh added.

"[Rugby's] a pretty simple sport. We were told that and it was reiterated that it's about doing the little things right and having a purpose as to why you're doing it," Khalfan continued.

"You can [apply] that to all the rugby you play, all the way to the top. Getting those simple things right and being critical of yourself too … is important at any level and probably the key to why New Zealand rugby is where it is compared to other places."

"Yeah nothing fancy, just simple rugby really," Seaman added.

All three agreed those learning experiences translated into the Blue Bulls' stunning on-field performances, which in many ways exceeded all expectations considering they were facing sides that live and breathe the sport daily.

The 35-strong men's group was split into two sides on Wednesday and Saturday, picking up two wins over University of Canterbury on the former day before beating High School Old Boys and going down to Prebbleton on the latter.

All three have created some major headaches for Central West coach Dean Oxley and his fellow selectors too considering none are incumbents, McHugh in particular.

He was named skipper of the tour's top side and led with aplomb from the second-row, taking control of the lineout and being among the side's best in both games.

Considering the likes of Nick Hughes-Clapp, Chris Miller and Dan Ryan weren't on the tour, Oxley will have an unenviable job filling the Blue Bulls' second and back rows for country week.

Khalfan was his deputy and, from halfback, linked beautifully with five-eighth and last year's Caldwell Cup MVP Mahe Fangupo, while Seaman was barnstorming from No.8.

But Oxley and Central West CEO Matt Tink made no secret of the fact the tour was designed to give fringe and lesser-known players from competitions like the Oilsplus Cup a chance to shine, so in those terms it's a box ticked leading into the remaining selection processes.