Perofeta ready to shine
IT was Rene Ranger who last year perceptively handed young Blues playmaker Stephen Perofeta the moniker Stephen Pero-future.
Well, that future is now for the gifted 20-year-old who looks set to take on the responsibility as the starting first five-eighth for Tana Umaga’s side in the upcoming Super Rugby season. No pressure, but the under-achieving Auckland franchise has only been waiting for a world-class No 10 to steer their ship since Carlos Spencer headed off at the end of the 2005 season to finish his career in the north.
But if Ranger is any judge, Perofeta could be the answer to long-suffering Blues fans’ prayers.
Certainly the buzz around the young man is exceedingly positive, with his cameo effort last year in masterminding the monumental upset of the British and Irish Lions considered a glimpse at a very, very bright future.
In a perfect world Perofeta might have been eased into the starting No 10 role for the Blues in 2018 by sharing time with new recruit Otere Black who signed with the Auckland franchise in a bid to step out from the giant shadow cast by Beauden Barrett at the Hurricanes.
But a major knee injury in provincial rugby late last year wrecked Black’s Super Rugby season before it even began, leaving the path clear for Perofeta to step in and live up to that legacy predicted by Ranger.
Early signs are promising to say the least. Perofeta came off the bench to play a major role in the Blues’ impressive 45-19 pre-season dismantling of the Chiefs in Te Kuiti on Friday, and afterwards he reflected with a good deal of maturity on the opportunity that lies ahead of him this season.
‘‘I have to make most of this chance,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s there for the taking and the key thing is just to play how I play, direct the forwards, play how T (coach Tana Umaga) wants us to play and within that play the game that I know.’’
The young man also appears to have his head round a challenge that carries a lot of responsibility but also all sports of opportunity.
‘‘This could be a good chance, or where it all falls apart,’’ he says with a grin. ‘‘I think I get to pick where I go. I feel like I’m heading in a good direction, but it’s about not being happy with where I’m at, and keep looking to get better and not settling for the level I’m playing at.’’
And the pressure that will inevitably hover over his quest to finally steer the Blues out of the basement of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference?
‘‘I relish that,’’ he responds. ‘‘I like a good challenge and this is a massive challenge ahead. I know that. I’m aware of the expectations we all face. And I’m confident in the work I’m doing to take that on when the season starts.’’
Perofeta also appears to have though through the delicate balancing act between expressing his own undoubted talents and instituting the guidance, control and key decision-making that the Blues so desperately need to take that step back into the top tier of this competition.
‘‘As a 10 you have to take control, and that’s the big work-on for me. My communication and getting messages across to key people at certain times is something I’m striving to get better at. But it’s also about just playing my game. The more I focus on what the outside noise is coming from out of our environment, the less it does for me. The best I can do is GETTY IMAGES focus on what I do and trust my process.’’
Perofeta’s dazzling display against the Lions last year was certainly a positive indicator he might just be ready to pick this thing up and run with it.
‘‘I looked at it like I was a nobody and I was playing against a 50-cap international, so I just thought I have nothing to lose. I didn’t feel like I had heaps on my shoulders, and I told myself just to back what I do, be confident and hopefully things will work out. I think it went all right.’’