D-Mac back for Waikato and eyeing return to ABs
Damian McKenzie is back in Hamilton with a newly-inked 18-month contract that will keep him at the Chiefs and in New Zealand rugby until the World Cup but the dynamic playmaker knows he faces fresh competition to regain his spot in the All Blacks.
Two weeks ago, McKenzie returned home from a lucrative sixmonth stint with Suntory, where he is believed to have pocketed $1.5 million for guiding the Milton Haig-coached club to the Japanese Top League final they lost to Robbie Deans’ Panasonic.
“I loved it. It’s a cool country. The rugby is a bit different — it’s quick, open and pretty loose, which is the style I like playing, so it was good fun,” McKenzie told the Weekend Herald. “Rugby over there is developing really well, so in the next few years, that Japanese League One competition will be pretty strong.”
Committing through to the 2023 World Cup in France leaves the door open for the 27-year-old to again take his talents offshore, or stay as a potentially senior figure in a depleted All Blacks squad.
For now, his return to the Chiefs significantly boosts their playmaking stocks. With Bryn Gatland growing his game and one-test All Black Josh Ioane understood to have re-signed for a further two years, McKenzie is likely to slot in at fullback for the Chiefs.
“I always thought of coming home. The World Cup was always a big goal of mine, so I wanted to come back for that. Signing for the Chiefs was an easy decision. It’s a great club and I’m close to 100 games, so it was always the plan to come back and join them and Waikato for the NPC season.
“The goal is to make the World Cup, hopefully, and then I’ll reassess after that.”
After playing 40 tests — 13 last year, six off the bench — McKenzie has runs on the board for the All Blacks but compelling form from Blues playmaker Stephen Perofeta this season creates serious competition for the third first-five/fullback role behind Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga.
McKenzie was not included in the All Blacks’ 36-man squad named this week for the three-test series against Ireland next month, as he must first play for Waikato to be eligible. When he satisfies that stipulation, he will likely go head-to-head with Perofeta for an All Blacks recall this year.
“I’m not eligible for the Irish series, or the initial squad naming for the Rugby Championship, but my understanding is if there’s an injury to maybe a 10 or 15, then I’m eligible to be brought into the squad. I’ll just wait and see what happens. My mind at the moment is focused on the season with Waikato, and if something pops up, I’ll go from there.”
Other All Blacks returning from Japan in recent years, Barrett and Brodie Retallick being high-profile examples, needed time to find their feet in New Zealand with the increased physicality, and less time and space on attack.
McKenzie hopes easing his way through the domestic competition will help accelerate that process.
Whenever off-contract, McKenzie is often linked to a move south to the Highlanders. He grew up in Gore and shifted to Christ’s College before joining Waikato in 2014. Now settled with a house in Hamilton, a return to his southern roots in not likely.
“That’s where I grew up and played a lot of my rugby down in Southland. Whether it happens at some stage down the track in my career, it could be a possibility, but for the meantime, I’m happy in Hamilton with the Chiefs. We’re developing well and we’ve got a lot of great young players coming through.”
Having last played two matches for the Mooloos during the Covidaffected 2020 season, McKenzie is relishing a provincial return.
“I really enjoyed going back and playing for Waikato. When you’re in the All Blacks, you don’t get as much time with your provincial club as you’d like, so it’s nice to get back and play for them. It’ll be great with a lot of rugby played in the afternoon.”