Hurricanes happy to share leadership load
Partly it’s just mateship, at other times it’s genuinely tactical. Whatever the reason, it’s not uncommon to see the Hurricanes’ two ‘‘captains’’ cruising around in a car together or trading ideas over a bite to eat.
A knee injury continues to keep the squad’s official skipper, Dane Coles, from any playing duties. Brad Shields is the man who runs the team on each week, often with Coles’ words ringing in his ears.
It’s a measure of the bond between the pair, but also Coles’ continued influence over the Hurricanes despite another injurydisrupted Super Rugby season.
‘‘Sometimes it’s not rugby-related and we do enjoy the odd catch-up and lunch. But, to be fair, since I’ve come into the environment in 2012, even the [Wellington] Lions in 2010, he’s sort of been the guy who took me under his wing,’’ Shields said ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Lions at Westpac Stadium.
‘‘With him being in that leadership role the last couple of years, he’s a great mentor and I’m really privileged to be able to learn off him while I’m here and he’s got some great advice. Even though he’s not in the team, he’s looking after things off the field and, yeah, we obviously do talk a bit about rugby but sometimes we do have to switch off and enjoy the downtime.
‘‘He’s a great mentor to me and I’ve learnt so much off him and half the stuff that I do mimics a little bit of what he does.’’
Coles is a man who prefers to lead through deeds, not words. But rib and calf injuries in 2016, concussion symptoms last year and now a knee-ligament rupture mean he’s not been in a position to contribute in the way he’d like to.
Nevertheless, Coles remains the team’s undisputed leader.
‘‘He’s, I s’pose you’d call it the alpha dog of the team. He probably wouldn’t like that [description] but he’s a guy that does lead with his actions and when he does say stuff it’s very powerful,’’ said Shields
‘‘Even though he’s not playing he’s a good person to have around the squad. He can see what’s going on, he’s experienced and, look, I’m grateful enough to lead this team in the weekend but there’s a bunch of guys that are doing a great job in amongst the team that’s really helping me out and he’s among them.
‘‘Beaudy [Barrett], TJ [Perenara], we’ve got Matty P [Matt Proctor] stepping up and Jeffy [Jeff To’omaga-Allen] as well. There’s a bunch of guys who help me out in the field.’’
Which begs the question which one is the vice-captain right now? Perenara was given the role, having previously been skipper in Coles’ absence, but is out with a knee injury of his own. ‘‘Good question. I’d imagine Baz [Beauden Barrett] would step up into that role. He’s obviously doing a lot of the talking and a lot of the game driving as well,’’ Shields said.
Shields and the rest of the Hurricanes’ forwards will have to stand up if Barrett’s to have much influence over this Lions game. The Bulls and Sharks packs have already had it over the Hurricanes this year, with the team losing the first of those and just sneaking home in the second.