SECOND-YEAR SYNDROME COULD STRIKE YOUNG STARS

When the franchise is near the top of its game, the weaknesses are few and far between yet for the star-studded Hurricanes, their two rock stars from last year are potentially set to enjoy a curious phenomenon called ‘second-year syndrome’.

Whilst not widely regarded by the medical community as a genuine syndrome, Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape could well fall foul of this common professional affliction.

Reaching their peaks to date and making the All Blacks for the Lions series, both shone on a weekly basis in Super Rugby with Laumape scoring tries with schoolboy ease and Barrett usurping his brother as goalkicker.

Standouts they were but as they enter 2018, both have large targets on their backs and will be doubly marked and catered for by opposing backlines and coaches.

Gameplans will pick up that Barrett missed almost as many tackles as he made in 2017 and he is too proficient in the air to continually test him.

His lanky gait to beat defenders in the outside channel will be duly noted as will his annoying talent for the offload.

Individualistic strategies can stifle young stars who haven’t worked out their Plan B yet. Once a known quantity, nothing stays the same and 2016 star turn Anton Lienert-Brown found the hangover can linger for most of the season.

While not a significant negative to the Hurricanes, lacking the same punch as a season prior will be cause for some adjustment and trialling.