Mataele set to make his mark for Canterbury
Christchurch: If it wasn’t for Manasa Mataele busting his knee last year, Sevu Reece likely would never have lit up Super Rugby with the Crusaders and cracked the All Blacks. That’s because Mataele was the form wing in Super Rugby early 2019, before a serious knee injury sidelined him for eight months and opened the door for Reece.
The 23-year-old had only been sighted twice – against the Reds and Sunwolves – outside of club rugby before scoring two tries in his Canterbury debut against North Otago in last Friday’s Ranfurly Shield defence.
Watching him steam over and past defenders, and make multiple defenders miss with his jinking and elusive running, was a timely reminder of his class.
So, his inclusion in Canterbury’s 37-man Mitre 10 Cup squad for the 2020 season should have red and black fans buzzing.
Mataele, who is contracted to the Crusaders through next year and hopes to be around even longer, is one of 25 players in the squad with Super Rugby experience.
He opted to leave Taranaki after four seasons, a decision he described as difficult, but one which means he can remain in Christchurch with partner Martha Lolohea, a member of Canterbury’s women’s team.
“It was a big decision for me, changing. Obviously, because the ‘Naki got me from Fiji. But I thought about it deeply with the options I’ve got, with my partner being down here...I talked to the people I trusted, what was better for me in the long run.
“It feels like my first year in Super Rugby, changing into a new team, taking every opportunity as it comes and making the most of it [is my goal],’’ Mataele said.
Canterbury’s 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad: Harry Allan, Finlay Brewis, George Bridge, Brodie McAlister, Fergus Burke, Brett Cameron, Tom
Christie, Sam Darry, Luke Donaldson, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Dunshea, Ere Enari, Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Cullen Grace, Billy Harmon, Oli Jager, Shilo Klein, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Manasa Mataele, Josh McKay, Dallas McLeod, Scott Mellow, Joe Moody, Richie Mo’unga, Fletcher Newell, Andrew Knewstubb, Rameka Poihipi, Reed Prinsep, Isaiah Punivai, Ngane Punivai, Luke Romano, Tom Sanders, Codie Taylor, Samuel Whitelock, Tamaiti Williams.