Plotting a Hurricanes dynasty
Coaching the Poverty Bay under-13 team could look like a cynical marketing ploy.
In truth, it’s how the Hurricanes are hoping to guarantee Super Rugby success for years to come.
When the team’s 2017 campaign ended at the semifinal stage, it wasn’t holidays in Europe or the United States that beckoned for their staff but less exotic locations such as Taupo, Gisborne and Palmerston North.
‘‘Our biggest challenge is actually retaining our talent, not finding it,’’ Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said.
‘‘We’ve just got to manage that over time but we have, in effect, a spreadsheet of each position and then who’s coming through and who we’re identifying at 15, 16 and what development opportunities they will receive through our provincial unions and the Hurricanes.
‘‘If they come into Hurricanes Schools and Hurricanes under-18s, Hurricanes under-20s they’re already on the pathway. But we’re looking beyond that, in terms of the Heartland regions, clubs and schools that aren’t necessarily on the traditional grid.
‘‘So our catchment is wide but, genuinely, sitting here I just can’t see why the Hurricanes won’t be a successful Super Rugby team for the next 10 years. But you have to keep working and keep focused on what’s important.’’
Ask Lee if he has a good idea who’ll be in the Hurricanes squad of, say, 2021 and the answer is yes.
‘‘You can’t contract kids at 15 years of age, so it’s more about showing them what the Hurricanes might be like and putting resources into our provincial unions where we can, with coaching or opportunities, so those kids choose to play for the Hurricanes.’’
Examples such as Ngani Laumape, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jordie Barrett, Vaea Fifita, Michael Fatialofa and Sam Lousi don’t hurt.
Different sport, obviously, but the New Zealand Warriors have developed an unfortunate reputation for making good players worse. At the Hurricanes there’s a growing trend of promising players realising their potential.
‘‘You’ve got to make sure your coaches are top-notch, because players are pretty ruthless. They want to go somewhere where they’re going to be developed and where they’re going to be developed to achieve higher honours,’’ said Lee.
With head coach Chris Boyd and assistant John Plumtree both offcontract at the end of next year, Lee and company need to decide if there’s going to a re-appointment or succession or restructure. Highlymotivated players with good habits and standards help, but coaches still set the tone for rugby teams.
They’re also the ones that keep the show on the road when the better and most experienced players are lured overseas.
The recent cases of Julian Savea and Brad Shields have been a slight departure, in that both are still in their prime. Savea is contracted to the Hrricanes until 2019, but had a clause allowing him to move franchises for the last two years of that deal, while Shields’ international aspirations might be bestmet in England.
The loose forward has a British passport and a contract that expires in 2018.
‘‘Brad has made it very clear that nothing’s changed in his world. He’s got one more year with the Hurricanes and he’s a crucial member of our team and he’s just a great man to have around,’’ Lee said.
‘‘We’ll be holding onto Brad as long as we can but we realise there’s some other interest out there, particularly from England, so we’ll just work at that with Brad.’’
Savea opted to see out his Hurricanes contract and Lee’s ‘‘not sure’’ how close the wing came to leaving.
‘‘We spoke to Julian’s agent, Julian took some time and then his agent rang me and said he’s not going anywhere.’’
Whichever members of the current squad seek opportunities elsewhere, Lee’s satisfied the franchise will continue to thrive.
‘‘Clearly you need a lot of talent coming through, but you also need a core group of senior players and coaches and you need a system behind that to keep investing in high performance.
‘‘I’m very confident the Hurricanes are going to be very competitive for the forseeable future. I can’t see any reason that wouldn’t happen.’’