Forget Matthew Lloyd living the high life in Melbourne, the Bomber super boot recently found a new home in Maebashi, Japan. As part of the leadership and development trip to Japan, Lloyd and his teammates were placed into the homes of unknown Japanese families. It was just the player and the locals and it was a very different experience.

""The home stay was one thing that I was a bit concerned about before we arrived in Japan,"" Lloyd admitted.

""I’m generally pretty comfortable in my own world but this made me a little nervous. I was lucky that when I got picked up my family could speak a little bit of English,"" he said.

For the next 48 hours Lloyd lived and breathed Japanese culture.

""From sleeping on the floor to crossing your legs and sitting at a tiny table for a meal, it was so different,"" Lloyd said.

""I quickly learnt that you must thank the family before you eat because it’s disrespectful if you don’t.""

The home stay was aimed at taking the players out of their comfort zone in terms of language, culture, lifestyle and familiarity.

Lloyd said one of the toughest things was breaking down the communication barrier, particularly early in the relationship.

""I tried to say a few Japanese words early on and that made the difference. It seemed that if I made an effort then they would try harder to take me into their lives,"" Lloyd said.

""I presented them with a few presents from Australia and they gave me a few Japanese gifts in return. I think the exchanging of gifts certainly helped break the initial barrier.""

Dean Rioli also said the home stay was the highlight of the trip for him, but admitted he had done his homework before heading to Japan.

""I bought a phrase book before I went over and I think that was my best mate while I was over there,"" Rioli said.

""With my family the wife couldn’t speak English but the husband could speak just enough to get what he wanted to say across.""

""I also found that my indigenous background probably gave me an advantage over the other boys. I know that you have to speak basic English to communicate and I probably didn’t use big words like a lot of the other boys did that the Japanese couldn’t understand.""

Both Lloyd and Rioli experienced the different forms of culture associated with Japanese tradition.

Lloyd was surprised to learn that Japanese families bath together as part of their culture. He bumped into team mate Andrew Welsh with his family at one of the many public baths in Maebashi - both players got a shock when they realised the local tradition was to bathe naked.

Rioli on the other hand experienced a much more spiritual tradition. ""My family took me up to a Buddha statue and explained the whole religion to me,"" Rioli said.

""I also threw a five yen coin, which is their lucky coin, into a tray and clapped twice before making a wish and then bow at the end. That for me was a very special experience.""

Lloyd certainly made an impression on his hosts over the course of his short stay, so much so the mother of his host family had to fight back tears as he returned to his team mates.

""I was told by the mother of my family in Japanese that she felt like she was losing a son, so I must have made a bit of an impression over the two nights,"" Lloyd quipped.

""They were just so friendly and it was great to learn about each other. They have already sent me an email saying they want to get to Australia soon.""

Rioli believes Lloyd’s hosts were merely star struck.

""I saw Lloydy’s family crying but I think she was crying because she didn’t know if it was Matthew Lloyd that was leaving or Tom Cruise,"" Rioli laughed."" Everyone in Japan thought he was Tom Cruise and he never once told them otherwise.""