Five players who will shine
01 PATRICK TUIPULOTU [Blues]
The big lock had a terrible start to 2017. He was facing a two-year ban for failing a drugs test – only for his B-sample to test negative in early February.
But once he got back into action, he was short of confidence and presence and ended up on the bench for most of the year. It took until September for his form to come good and he started the final All Blacks test of the year in Cardiff.
He’s finally back in the right head space and in sensational physical shape. With his faith in himself restored, Tuipulotu should be in commanding form. He’s a huge man, a beast when he tucks the ball under his arm and keeps running.
He’s also a superbly destructive tackler and the Blues will be a more dynamic, forceful pack with Tuipulotu back to his best.
02 CHARLIE NGATAI [Chiefs]
Life hasn’t been easy for Charlie Ngatai. He spent a year out of the game with concussion and feared this time last year that he may never play again.
But he made it back in April last year and gently played his way through the year. With a good pre-season under his belt and any lingering fears about his readiness presumably diminishing, Ngatai should hopefully return to his best form in 2018.
And if he does, he may in fact be the best midfielder in the country. He has pace, agility and the ability to play in both roles. He can also kick well, break the line and defend aggressively.
03 DANE COLES [Hurricanes]
The 2017 season pretty much passed Dane Coles by. He barely played due to a calf injury and a major concussion. He didn’t much like not playing and he probably feels that he owes his team something.
And they will get it. Partly because Coles will be hungry to make up for lost time and partly because with Asafo Aumua and Ricky Riccitelli in the squad, he’s going to be under pressure to hold his place.
It will help that he should start the season having improved his conditioning which dropped away last year when he was unable to train between March and May due to his concussion.
04 JACK GOODHUE [Crusaders]
We didn’t know too much about Jack Goodhue this time last year, but we do now. He’s a smooth operator – a powerful force who acts as both distributor and strike runner.
He can’t take all the credit, but can certainly be heavily acknowledged for being instrumental in straightening the Crusaders’ attack. His decision-making in that wider channel was relentlessly accurate and the Crusaders became more clinical as a result.
Half opportunities were converted because Goodhue made the right call at the right time and having toured Europe with the All Blacks last year, he should be even better equipped to contribute.
05 BEN SMITH [Highlanders]
Ben Smith has been one of the Highlanders’ best players since 2009. He barely has a quiet game and hardly ever makes more than one mistake in a game.
So it seems a low risk prediction to state that he will shine because he always does. The difference this year is that having had a four-month break and a genuine pre-season, Smith could really take an iron grip on the competition and influence things more than he usually does.
He was posting personal bests on the track and in the gym when he returned to training which bodes well.