From Ratbag to Revelation
On the eve of his 100th appearance, Hurricanes captain Dane Coles charts his journey from ‘ratbag’ to revered figure. Hamish Bidwell reports.
Dane Coles grew up idolising the Hurricanes. He and his dad regularly caught the train in from Paraparaumu to watch games at Westpac Stadium, or drove north in the days when Palmerston North was a regular stop on the Super Rugby circuit.
It was natural, then, to ask if there was a moment when the young Coles decided he wanted to be a Hurricane? Was it seeing someone score a particular try? Maybe an autograph or something a player said to him at a coaching clinic or on a school visit?
The answer tells you plenty about the man who’s now Hurricanes captain, a 49-test All Black and poised to play his 100th Super Rugby match tomorrow.
‘‘I remember meeting Riki Flutey,’’ Coles said from Johannesburg, where the Hurricanes about about to meet the Lions in their semifinal at Ellis Park.
‘‘I can’t remember, I must’ve been on the town with my mates. We used to drive in from the coast in a van and have a few beers and I remember I seen him after a game and he stopped and had a chat to us and I just thought giving up his time [was impressive] and he was just a real good man and I remember that and I was like ‘man, I’d love to be a Hurricane’.’’
So many people in public life censor themselves. If they have a life story to tell, it’s often left unsaid. Better to be bland than give too much away. Not Coles. ‘‘I was a bit of a ratbag. Especially in the early days of [playing for the] Hurricanes I had a few hiccups and stuff like that.’’
It’s said in such an upfront, matter-of-fact way that you smile, rather than wonder what kind of hiccups we’re talking about.
None of us are perfect; least of all Coles.
Unlike many people, though, the 30-year-old appears to have learned the odd thing from his experiences. When he says he ‘‘owes the team a lot’’ he means it.
Coles is still learning, with this season being a prime example. On Sunday at Ellis Park, he’ll become the eleventh man to play 100 games for the Hurricanes. Some guys will play that kind of thing down; Coles began plotting a course towards the milestone a year ago.
He regrets that now. He’d started this campaign six games short of 100 and got injured in the fourth of them. As his rehabilitation stretched into its third month, then a fourth, he wondered if it would ever happen.
Coles subscribes to the view if a captain wants to lead well, first he has to play well. This year has been a challenge, but one that’s been good for him and the Hurricanes.
‘‘The first couple of weeks I was out, I was trying to contribute, but I’m a man that walks the talk and talking was quite hard because I wasn’t doing those actions.
‘‘It became tough and I tried to help out where I could, but I had to put trust in other guys to step up, which they have, and I’ve kind of had to take a back seat, so that was probably the hardest thing.
‘‘Brad Shields has been unreal in his leadership role. TJ [Perenara] has stepped up, Jeff [To’omaga] Allen; guys like that have stepped up and led the team.’’
When Coles made his debut back in 2009 not all Hurricanes were created equal. That began to change under Mark Hammett and Conrad Smith and has continued now that Chris Boyd is head coach and Coles is captain.
Coles likes to lead through his deeds.
It’s a good method. Equally, the fact that multiple men have stepped forward in his absence speaks volumes for the environment he’s helped create.
After all, making people feel valued and respected is as much a part of leading a rugby team as topping the tackle count.
‘‘A classic example is Vaea Fifita. He came in a shy Tongan boy and I’ve noticed since I’ve been back in the team [that] he’s a real leader amongst the group and it just shows how much he’s grown in the team that he feels comfortable and can be demanding and stuff like that,’’ said Coles.
‘‘It’s a good culture to have in a team where guys are willing to say how it is and not be afraid what anyone else thinks.’’
No prizes for guessing who they learned that from.
‘‘I remember meeting Riki Flutey . . . he was just a real good man and I remember that and I was like ‘man, I’d love to be a Hurricane’.’’ Dane Coles