Lam poised to stay with Hurricanes to chase ABs dream
As the northern vultures circle, the Hurricanes appear well placed to close a deal that will keep in-form wing, and potential All Black bolter, Ben Lam right where he is plying his trade in New Zealand.
Lam has been the big Kiwi mover through the first part of the Super Rugby season, scoring a competition-best eight tries in six matches for the Kiwi conferencetopping Hurricanes who have followed up their opening-round defeat in Pretoria with five consecutive victories.
The burly left wing is playing the code of his life after a circuitous route to Super Rugby stardom via three bit-part seasons with his home-town Blues and a regular role with the globetrotting New Zealand sevens outfit.
He is big (1.94m, 109kg), strong, fast and proving an adept finisher in tight situations – a prerequisite of playing the wing spot in test rugby.
He is also bounding into All Blacks contention among a logjam of back-three contenders. He may require an injury or two to get there this year but he is at least now in the conversation after his storming start to the 2018 season.
But with Lam’s contract up at the end of this season, the Hurricanes and NZ Rugby are reportedly moving fast to keep the 26-year-old strike weapon in the country in the face of some serious offers coming in from clubs in Japan, France and the UK.
Hurricanes boss Avan Lee did not want to comment on Lam’s contractual situation, with negotiations thought to be at a delicate stage, but did tell the StarTimes: ‘‘We appreciate Ben is a valuable member of the Hurricanes and we’re certainly talking to him and his agent about extending his time with us.’’
The Star-Times understands the parties are close to finalising a deal, with the potential for an announcement as early as this week.
Sources indicate there is willingness on Lam’s behalf to remain with the Canes and New Zealand rugby in general as he pursues his ambitions in the game. That his partner is a doctor in Wellington also makes his situation different.
The Hurricanes have rated Lam highly even prior to his latest burst of form, and it is understood negotiations started before his outburst of six tries in two matches.
Lam’s re-signing is considered a key litmus test for the New Zealand game as it battles to secure key men in the layer of talent just below the leading All Blacks.
Though the Hurricanes are understood to be optimistic about getting a new deal signed, they will be relieved if and when it occurs. They are losing key forwards Brad Shields, Blade Thompson and Michael Fatialofa at the end of this season, and will want to buck the trend with a major re-signing.
Canes CEO Lee admits it’s a tough environment in which to persuade established, quality players in their mid-20s, but yet to break into the All Blacks, to stay in the New Zealand game.
‘‘If any of us were offered three times what we earn to go to the other side of the world, I don’t know many people who wouldn’t be interested in that,’’ he said.
‘‘The biggest challenge is guys who are 24 or 25 who possibly don’t see the pathway through to the All Blacks. That’s why NZ Rugby, the Players Association and clubs are all working really hard at creating the best environment we can in New Zealand. It’s the best rugby in the world at that level but there is some attraction up north, no doubt about that.
‘‘Japan is just as relevant as England and France. You can’t ignore them. I think they are increasing their numbers of foreigners as well, whereas France is decreasing theirs. Japan will continue to be a viable option and the challenge [of retaining talent] is not getting any smaller.’’
Star loose forward Ardie Savea is the other key Hurricane off contract this year. It is understood he is motivated to stay on in Wellington and to be part of the 2019 World Cup tilt, though negotiations are ongoing between his agent Warren Alcock and the NZ Rugby-led contracting team.
Expect that deal to also get done sooner rather than later.
A late penalty try has kept the Chiefs’ long unbeaten run against the Blues intact, with the hosts edging to a 21-19 victory in their Super Rugby clash in Hamilton last night.
In a tense affair at FMG Stadium Waikato, referee Paul Williams awarded an automatic sevenpointer with seven minutes left, after the gallant Blues eventually folded.
The visitors – who now haven’t beaten the Chiefs in a run of 14 matches – had led for the majority of the contest, but in a second half when they were camped inside their half it always looked like they would break at some point, and it meant a fifth loss in six matches.
The Chiefs had to work hard for a fifth successive win though. With all the momentum in the third quarter they tried all sorts with it – giving it air, keeping it tight and driving – but nothing seemed to come to fruition, with a few average options taken and some untimely handling errors marring their cause, in amongst some desperate Blues defence.
It was a period with no points but several key moments – the tackle of Bryn Gatland on a rampaging Pita Gus Sowakula one, Anton LienertBrown’s ankle tap on a galloping Rieko Ioane another, along with a couple of scuppered Chiefs lineout drives from close range.
Then, with 13 minutes left, Blues lock Josh Goodhue was sin binned for lying in a ruck on his team’s goal-line.
The Chiefs opted to scrum, won a penalty, then it turned into scuffle central, as tempers boiled over. Another penalty came which brought another warning from referee Williams, before the next shunt against seven men had the Chiefs rewarded under the sticks.
Both teams were playing the last 50 minutes of the match without key men after the Blues had George Moala (shoulder) and Jerome Kaino (hamstring) leave the park, and the Chiefs had Damian McKenzie off as well, with ice seen applied to his ribs.
Already pre-game Charlie Ngatai was left off the Chiefs’ bench because of a minor hamstring problem – said to be an extension from his recent knee injury – while the Blues had Jimmy Tupou as a late inclusion in place of Orbyn Leger, making it a 6-2 forwardsbacks split.
It was a topsy-turvy first half, with the Blues in front after two Stephen Perofeta penalties in the opening four minutes, only for the Chiefs to seize control back.
And with hardly any ball at all down the Chiefs’ end in the second spell, the Blues just never looked like going on with the job.
Chiefs 21 (Sean Wainui try; penalty try; Damian McKenzie 3 pen) Blues 19 (James Parsons try; Stephen Perofeta con, 4 pen). HT: 14-19.