Wynne Gray wonders what impact Ma’a Nonu will have at the Hurricanes next year.
WYNNE GRAY IS THE SENIOR RUGBY WRITER AT THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD.
He is the M. A. N, certainly in Hurricanes territory. He is Ma’a Allan Nonu, the powerful second five- eighths who is cruising back down the highway to set up camp once more in the Canes fiefdom.
After three years away, Ma’a Nonu is heading back to his old franchise— long live the Canes.
No player since Jonah Lomu graced the game in New Zealand has brought such splintered views as Nonu. The range of opinion about the nation’s most capped midfield back is remarkable.
On the scales of rugby comment, his contributions and impact range from erratically divisive at the lower end to the best second- five in All Black history.
Not so long ago I was asked by the New Zealand Herald to rate my top 100 All Blacks, since WWII, on the condition I choose half a dozen players in every position. At the top of my list for secondfive were Walter Little and Ma’a Nonu with barely a dreadlock between them.
The fact is Nonu has been a rock for the All Blacks in 91 tests, someone who had an erratic start but has blossomed into one of the most consistent players in an elite team and is probably the best in his position in the world.
His game has developed enormously from a tuck and surge runner to someone who plays with his head up, scans the field and has added a range of kicking and passing skills to complement his fearsome running and defensive attributes.
Nonu has been mint for the All Blacks and in another spluttering season for the Blues, he put in a big shift as one of their better players.
Now he is returning to the Hurricanes, a franchise he never wanted to leave but was forced to when new coach Mark Hammett was unable to persuade Nonu to shelve his antics. Hammett was looking to instill new disciplines and commitment to get the Canes to the top of the Super Rugby podium.
Previous coach Colin Cooper took the side to five playoffs and one runners- up title in his eight seasons at the helm as the Canes delighted yet frustrated in equal measures. One theory was that Hammett would bring an extra bit of structure to bind the side together.
When he left after four seasons for a new coaching job in Wales, Hammett had presided over a Hurricanes squad who never made the playoffs, finishing 9th, 8th, 11th and seventh in regular season play.
Hammett also paid out on a Hurricanes structure he described as a “mess” when he arrived because of a lack
Shoveling the ball to Nonu and asking him to deliver is not a long- term method for success. And long- term will be one question which surrounds the Canes.’
of professionalism and leadership. It may have been but four years is a long chunk of repair work without dividends.
Many with sympathetic connections to the Canes are wheeling out notions that the goodness will bubble to the top in 2015 when new coach Chris Boyd, a man with plenty of local knowledge and connections throughout the region, embarks on his work.
It would be foolish to dismiss that possibility as each New Zealand team begins their campaign with similar optimism. Sometimes quirks in the system, injuries, rare glitches, rogue results or major dramas like earthquakes can have an impact.
Next year is also a World Cup season and that can bring all sorts of disruptions.
Right now though the candles of forgiveness are burning bright and the prayers of thanksgiving are growing louder as the Hurricanes faithful feast their eyes on the possibilities. TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Cory Jane, Jason Woodward or Matt Proctor - the backline already has a saintly glow. Victor Vito, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea... gold among the loosies and... well, ahem, potential in the tight five with a few All Blacks... but how long have we said that about the Canes men up front?
Nonu might have the size and the power but he is wasted in the tight five and a little short for the lineout.
Is he the panacea in the backline? There’s no doubt he is class and his combination with Conrad Smith has been gold for teams they have adorned. But they are only as good as the possession a pack and the halfbacks can deliver. Shoveling the ball to Nonu and asking him to deliver is not a long- term method for success. And long- term will be one question which surrounds the Canes.
Neither Nonu nor Smith is getting any more spritely and Smith, especially, has suffered some significant injuries which have bitten into his work. In comparison Nonu has belted on, a man who is dinged occasionally but is such a reliable component who brings such psychological energy for any team. Will 2015 be the year of the Canes when their stars and galaxy Nonu align or will it be another version of the same old?