Match report
Jade Te Rure is bringing the razzle back to the Manawatu¯ Turbos this year.
The 24-year-old, who confirmed he has signed with the Turbos again for 2018, has proven once again to be the perfect complement to tactical specialist Otere Black with the duo sharing time in the No 10 jersey this season.
‘‘I think it works for us well. [Otere] is more tactical, but can run. But I see myself as more of an attacker than a tactical player,’’ Te Rure said.
‘‘It worked for us well in 2014 so I think it can change up a game.’’
Te Rure has already turned on some exciting attacking plays in 2017 with his deceptive running and creative passing creating space for the players outside him.
He describes it as bringing a bit of ‘‘razzle’’.
And he hopes to be able to bring it a Super Rugby team next year.
‘‘I am still chasing [a Super Rugby contract], but I have not really heard anything. It is one of those things that I just want to keep playing well and if it comes it comes and if it does not then I will just have to reassess.’’
For Te Rure, just playing injury-free rugby again has been a success.
At the end of 2014 he headed to Edinburgh in Scotland, his Scottish-born grandmother making him hot property.
His stay in Scotland is best described as frustrating.
Injuries meant he saw little time on the field. His final season never even got off the ground with back-to-back knee injuries.
And when the 2015-2016 Scottish season wrapped up, he was deemed surplus to requirements at Edinburgh.
Still recovering from his knee injury, there was little for Te Rure to do but return to return home.
There was no contract waiting for him at his home province. Instead Manawatu handed him a prove-yourself-in-club-rugby directive.
While he was recovering from his injury, he was working and that fuelled his determination to get back on the field.
‘‘Working is no fun. When you are working and do not have a contract it is good to come back and just do what you love. Working can come later.’’
Once he was fit to play he wasted little time proving himself, his kicking and elusive running responsible for many of Kia Toa’s wins.
By May, Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter was convinced Te Rure was still capable of the rigours of provincial rugby and he was signed.
‘‘I am thankful to Jeremy and Goody for putting the faith in me that I could go through the season without any trouble with the knee.’’ Last night’s NPC match between the Manawatu¯ Turbos and Counties Manukau finished after our print deadline. For a match report, head to Stuff.co.nz. Further reaction will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Manawatu¯ Standard.
He said his knee was a lot better now and the heavy strapping he wears on game day was more of a personal comfort.
‘‘I am still not 100 percent on it so I always strap it. That is for myself. If I don’t strap it, I probably won’t be as confident as if I did strap it. It is different for everybody, but having tape on it makes me more confident to have a go and not worry about being tackled.’’