Barrett’s future uncertain
All Blacks matchwinner from the bench could ultimately be driven offshore in search of real value, reports Liam Napier.
Beauden Barrett’s immediate future lies with the Hurricanes and New Zealand rugby, but his matchwinning qualities from the bench could eventually drive him overseas unless he starts more games at first five-eighth for the All Blacks.
Barrett is fast becoming the golden horse of New Zealand rugby – the man whose touch invariably produces game-changing plays. His star shone brightly throughout the three-match sweep of Wales, twice coming off the bench to spark the All Blacks before nailing his starting chance in Dunedin.
He is off contract at the end of this year but the task of placing a value on Barrett is proving difficult. He could walk into any other starting test side and command a staggering salary.
But in the All Blacks, his impact from the pine has seen him used frequently in that role. This creates a dilemma when it comes to contract negotiations.
How do you value a guy who plays for half an hour compared with someone such as Aaron Smith, who consistently features for 70 to 80 minutes?
Barrett’s skill set is forcing those controlling New Zealand Rugby finances to think outside traditional boundaries of purely minutes on the field, and shift more towards assessing telling contributions.
‘‘It’s fair to say Beauden is a unique proposition,’’ NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said. ‘‘Clearly he’s a match winner – he’s shown that the last two weeks and previously.
‘‘We are fortunate in New Zealand to sometimes not even have match winners in our starting XV. Beauden has the capability to play 10, 15, come on in the 23 jersey and probably other positions as well.
‘‘He’s a guy who is challenging the way we think about contracting value.’’
The issue facing NZ Rugby is how long will Barrett give himself to overtake Aaron Cruden and grab the 10 jersey? And how much he is prepared to compromise to stay long term.
The All Blacks embrace a 23-man game and Barrett buys into the team-first mantra. But every player wants to start, and if Barrett is not doing that regularly, at what point does he pull stumps and say, ‘I don’t want to be a reserve’?
These are the sort of questions Barrett is asking himself as he considers the length of his next contract extension.
The Rugby Championship will give the 25-year-old a good indication of whether he’s done enough to alter the pecking order. But he may consider a short-term deal to keep his options open.
It’s hard to know what the next four years hold for Barrett, who has until mid-September to ink a new deal. When he’s going forward, on his toes, with his running game on point, there is no better attacking in order spark-plug in world rugby.
New Zealand Rugby would not want to lose him at any point before the 2019 World Cup.
‘‘Performance has the potential to change value,’’ Lendrum said.
‘‘The discussions are really constructive at the moment. We’re really confident he likes being in New Zealand; he’s got a lot more to give to the game here. He is in some senses approaching the peak of his powers but I’d say he’s also got more to give.
‘‘There’s always a risk of offshore clubs coming into the mix.
‘‘It’s not something we’re losing sleep over with Beauden but we’re not naive enough to think that it couldn’t happen.’’
Speculation around Barrett joining the Blues is wide of the mark.
The Blues, through private investor Murray Bolton, may table an attractive offer but those close to Barrett say he is not motivated by money. Even the lure of playing inside fellow All Black Sonny Bill Williams isn’t thought to be enough to prise Barrett north.
It’s a similar scenario to Dan Carter weighed up.
Even when Carter lived in Auckland, he couldn’t convince himself to switch from the Crusaders. Another $50,000 isn’t likely to be worth Barrett dealing with the public fallout that would accompany him walking away from the Canes, where he’s been since 2011.
The Blues are also understood to have re-signed Ihaia West, and tested the waters with Otere Black, Barrett’s deputy at the Hurricanes. All of which means a move for Barrett would be a major shock.
‘‘He’s played his whole career at the Hurricanes and I’ve got no reason to believe he’s unhappy at the Canes,’’ Lendrum said. the one