Semi was all Canes could expect
The Hurricanes made it as far as they were capable in 2018. Campaigns can always be better but there’s no real point in condemning the Hurricanes for ‘‘only’’ being Super Rugby semifinalists this season. They tried hard and prepared well and weren’t as good as the Crusaders when it counted.
There will be those who think the Hurricanes’ pack needed a rocket or weren’t hard and physical enough. That’s unfair. It wasn’t a lack of desire or effort that defeated the forwards at AMI Stadium. It was the fact that Crusaders such as Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett are just better than their Hurricanes’ equivalents. There’s no disgrace in that. No pack in the competition is a match for what the Crusaders have got.
All that remains, then, is to sift through a few talking points and dish out the odd award.
Player of the year
Ricky Riccitelli is far from flawless.
But, in the absence of Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua, the little hooker shouldered a massive burden this year. To start every week and play big minutes in such a high-impact position was a remarkable achievement, making Riccitelli the player who went above and beyond in 2018.
Second five-eighth Ngani Laumape wasn’t far behind him. Most improved
Goes to lock Sam Lousi. Another guy who pushed out massive minutes, Lousi’s evolution from rugby league player to reliable tight forward has been impressive. He has a great engine, can carry, tackle, clean and is increasingly-good in the set-pieces.
Wing Ben Lam was another Hurricane who took himself from nowhere to somewhere this season.
Best performance
The two home wins over the Chiefs were impressive, particularly the quarterfinal. With the Crusaders a class apart this year, the Chiefs and Hurricanes were the best of the rest, so the Hurricanes deserve credit for knocking them over twice.
Worst performance
Conversely, the 28-24 week-19 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton was a shocker. The hosts put out a weakened side, and eventually finished with 14, and yet were still too good for the Canes. There was a real frailty about that performance.
Most thrilling moments
There was a period, epitomised by his tries against the Crusaders and Chiefs at home, when wing Ben Lam was unstoppable. Watching him streak away against the Crusaders was astonishing really, before he ran right through the guts of the Chiefs team a couple of weeks later.
Laumape’s last-gasp try against the Sharks, converted by Ihaia West, wasn’t bad either.
Biggest loss (1)
Having Coles on deck might not have changed the outcome of the season, but there’s no doubt the Hurricanes would’ve been more formidable with their captain on deck. Coles just doesn’t tolerate nights like that one in Hamilton.
Biggest loss (2)
While centre Matt Proctor was fit, the Hurricanes boasted the best defence in the competition. Without him, they leaked points by the dozen.
The absence of Vince Aso’s attacking game was sorely missed as well.
Beauden and TJ
People can be pretty quick to round of the halves combination of Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara, but they’re largely at the mercy of the forwards. Put them behind the Crusaders’ pack and they’d go all right. Not sure why folk are so keen to run Barrett down, in particular.
The camps
Prior to the much-discussed All Blacks camps, the Hurricanes had won 10 games in a row. They weren’t absolutely flying, but they going pretty well. After them, they lost five of their last seven matches.
Chris Boyd leaving
There will be some who feel this contributed to the campaign, potentially undermining Boyd’s authority as head coach or creating disharmony and uncertainty. That would be a stretch. Coaches, just like players, sometimes have to go elsewhere to further their careers; that’s no reason for the wheels to fall off.
The Hurricanes worked hard to ensure Boyd’s departure, and that of Brad Shields, Julian Savea, Michael Fatialofa, Blade Thomson and West, was not a distraction.
Overall
It’s 7/10. More good moments than bad and the team played pretty near to their potential. They’re just not as good as the Crusaders.