Milner-Skudder: Highlanders was right choice
Former All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder says ‘‘new opportunities’’ and the support of his wife, Hannah, were central to his decision to leave the Hurricanes.
Milner-Skudder confirmed last week that he was heading to Dunedin, and he the told the Ardie Savea podcast that the likely reaction of Hurricanes supporters had ‘‘played a bit on my mind’’ before the move.
‘‘I did factor that in a little bit around making the decision,’’ Milner-Skudder said. ‘‘That’s probably just because the fans up here [Wellington] are really passionate.
‘‘But for me, with my situation and where I’m at the moment . . . I don’t know if being loyal to myself is the right way to frame, but I think it’s about what’s best for me and whanau at this point in time.
‘‘That’s a fresh start, new opportunities and getting excited about what’s coming up.’’
Milner-Skudder first joined the Hurricanes in 2014 and won the Super Rugby title with them in 2016, although his time in the capital has been affected by shoulder injuries.
He credited Hannah for helping him through the tough times and said her input was crucial in the move to the deep south.
‘‘We had a good chat around opportunity, weighing up the pros and cons of going down, more so of what it would mean for us as a family.
‘‘The wife is pumping with the mahi up here so I’ll probably make the move for the first instance just to get settled in and then go from there,’’ he said.
The 29-year-old was now desperate to restart his career, having last played at the end of 2018 in an All Blacks test against Japan.
‘‘I’m really stoked,’’ he said. ‘‘The Landers club have an amazing culture and awesome set up for me with where I’m at in my career and what’s happened over the last couple of years.
‘‘I’m chomping at the bit to get there and get stuck in.’’
Milner-Skudder also said his bad luck with injury had given him a greater sense of perspective.
‘‘I had my first shoulder reconstruction back in 2016,’’ he said.
‘‘The last four or five years have been up and down with injury and setback after setback.
‘‘At the same time, the adversity you go through and all the struggles allow you to grow as a person.
‘‘I’m not saying it doesn’t suck and I wasn’t in some dark places, but I’ve come through all these tough times with a better understanding of myself and it’s put things into perspective.’’