HOOKER Niall Annett has learned a lot from his idol Rory Best and says he’s picking up plenty of tips from Warriors team-mate Gus Creevy.

The 23-year-old moved to Sixways in the summer, partly because Best’s form was limiting his first-team opportunities at Ulster.

Belfast-born Annett has made 11 first team appearances for Warriors this term and returned to Warriors’ Championship line-up for last Sunday’s match at Nottingham.

“I played quite a bit at the start of the season and then I was involved with the Cavaliers in the A-League and playing in the final was fantastic,” said Annett.

“The thing I always need to remember is that we have got a massive squad with three or four players deep in every position. The club are looking to build strength in depth.

“I was back in the Championship squad for last week and that was brilliant.

“I just need to train and play as well as I can to stay .

“I was relatively happy with how things went but there are always areas I can improve and aspects I can get better at. I don’t think anyone will be resting on their laurels in our squad.

Annett was singled out for praise by Warriors’ director of rugby, Dean Ryan, after Worcester’s 58-3 victory.

“Any time you win a match by a fairly large margin it’s fantastic to be involved in and it was great to be back in the side,” said Annett.

“For Dean to say he was relatively proud of us and to tell the media that I had done well was nice to hear, too.

“Whoever gets picked to do the job has an opportunity to stake their claim for another week and, hopefully, we can grow from the performance we put on at Nottingham.”

Annett captained Ireland under 20s in the Junior Rugby Championships in 2011 and was called up to the Barbarians squad which faced Leicester Tigers.

He played for Ulster through the academy and was a professional at the club for two years.

“Growing up, I was a massive fan of Rory Best and I had the pleasure of training and playing with him,” said Annett.

“There’s part of me which models myself on him. I would like to think I am my own player but there are aspects of Gus Creevy and Rory which come into my game.

“At Ulster my pathway was blocked with Rory and, with him being an international hooker and a British and Irish Lion, my game-time was limited.

“I spoke to Dean and Worcester was a fantastic opportunity to come and play some regular rugby at a high standard and get coached by brilliant coaches and develop my game.

“At 23 my decision to move was more about getting game-time and being in an environment where I would grow and improve. I had 20 caps, including two Heineken Cup matches, at Ulster.”

Annett made his senior debut for Ulster against Leinster, whose ‘A’ team travel to Worcester in the semi-finals of the British and Irish Cup on March 13.

“The Leinster fixture is one of the matches which stuck out in the calendar,” he said.

“I know a lot of the guys at Leinster having played age-group rugby in Ireland.

“I would be very pleased to play against Leinster if I am selected.

“Leinster are a fantastic team and I am sure their ‘A’ team will play a very similar way to the seniors — at a high tempo, organised and good at the breakdown.”