Culture critical to Canes’ success
RUGBY: You don’t hear Mark Hammett’s name mentioned much at Rugby League Park these days.
The Cantabrian’s tenure as Hurricanes head coach isn’t remembered too fondly by some and he certainly never achieved the results on the park that Chris Boyd and John Plumtree have since.
From finalists in 2015, the coaching duo have now guided the Hurricanes to a home semifinal against the Chiefs on Saturday night.
They’re impressive outcomes, made more meritorious by the manner in which they’ve been achieved.
The Hurricanes’ rugby has become increasingly authoritative this season and this looks like their best chance yet to claim a maiden Super Rugby title.
An important element to the team’s success has been the contribution of its unheralded players.
Stars often win you games and they certainly generate headlines. But they can also intimidate teammates, just as much as the opposition.
The fact that men such as Willis Halaholo, Vince Aso, Jason Woodward, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita and Loni Uhila have shone for the Hurricanes this year is testament to the equality that now exists within the squad. It’s a process that began under Hammett.
‘‘Obviously the last five years we’ve built a culture in the team where you can speak up if you want and your voice is important,’’ blindside flanker Brad Shields said at the team’s training base this week.
‘‘There’s obviously hard work to be done to earn your place, and everyone goes through that, but I think it’s an environment now where you don’t have to be shy to say something, you don’t have to be scared to express yourself out there. If you’ve got a question, ask a question; if you’ve got a point, make a point because if that benefits the team, that’s what we want.
‘‘Maybe that is why the guys who are stepping into those roles can just go out there and play without worrying about embarrassing themselves or doing something wrong, because we’re a team that backs each other up 100 per cent.’’
Players such as Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Dane Coles and Ardie Savea have been rightly acclaimed for their performances but there’s others - guys like Otere Black, Hugh Renton, Tony Lamborn, Geoff Cridge - who are playing an important, if unseen, role too.