Hunt ready to lead Highlanders at No 10
If Mitch Hunt is as composed in the Highlanders backline on Friday night as he was during his first media duties in Dunedin then the men from the deep south have invested wisely.
The former Crusader was put up in front of the cameras yesterday – something that not all players enjoy – but was calm and honest about his desire to escape from Richie Mo’unga’s shadow, winning respect from his new team-mates at the Highlanders and taking on a leadership role in the backline.
The 24-year-old playmaker is a good chance to start at No 10 against the Sharks and knows he will be put under the microscope by New Zealand’s hard-marking rugby public, but he appears to be ready for that challenge.
‘‘I’m hoping for a bit more game time and a chance to really express myself on the field, something I didn’t get a lot of in Christchurch,’’ Hunt said.
‘‘I’d been four years in Christchurch and still found myself in a similar spot at the end of that. It was a professional decision to come here and expand my game.’’
When Hunt’s move to the Highlanders was confirmed, it appeared his desire to spend more time in the No 10 jersey could be complicated by Josh Ioane’s own rise in the position.
Ioane made his All Blacks debut against Tonga last year after a strong Super Rugby season and remains an excellent option for the Highlanders in the No 10 jersey.
However, the Highlanders offered clues throughout the preseason that they were keen to get both Hunt and Ioane on the field at the same time, drawn to Hunt’s composure and ability to produce big plays.
Hunt admitted that he felt ‘‘nervous’’ about earning the respect of his new team-mates in Dunedin but said he had put in the mahi during the pre-season and was ready to start barking orders out when they were needed.
‘‘I felt I had a really good year at the [Tasman] Mako and I’m hoping to build on that experience,’’ he said. ‘‘I was thrust into a leadership seat there and I want to build on that and do that again for this group.
‘‘That’s my mindset. Wherever I’m put out I’m keen to get out there and just get stuck in.
‘‘Coming down I was trying to earn respect first, just through hard work in the pre-season.’’
Where that leaves Ioane – and by extension Highlanders fullback Josh McKay – will be revealed when the Highlanders name their team tomorrow.
Ioane started the Highlanders’ first pre-season game against the Waratahs at No 12, but he appears to be a more likely option at No 15.
That switch would test his ability under the high ball but could also suit his strong running game, with the Highlanders vowing to unleash a high-tempo style under attack coach Tony Brown.
Hunt has worked in tandem with Ioane during the pre-season and said the relationship was coming along nicely.
‘‘[It’s] just having that knowledge out on the field and vision and decision making and getting the right communication,’’’ he said.
‘‘As a No 10 if you’re getting told ‘in the corner’ [by Ioane] you don’t even have to look you can just execute when you’re getting that communication.
‘‘We’ve had that chance already and he’s been awesome.’’