Hungry and healthy, Perenara is keen to contribute
Starter or sub? TJ Perenara wants to be the best in the world at whichever role the Hurricanes need him to play. After more than a year out of the game, the 80-test All Blacks halfback is desperate to make up for lost time by helping the Hurricanes win their second Super Rugby title.
Perenara missed the entire 2023 campaign after rupturing his Achilles during a test against England the previous year.
He had originally targeted a return towards the latter stages of last season only to suffer a setback in his recovery after discovering a new tear in his Achilles tendon, which required him to undergo a second operation.
Perenara was effectively back to square one.
It was a challenging time for Perenara, who had to sit back and watch as Cam Roigard grabbed his opportunity at the Hurricanes and played his way into the All Blacks’ World Cup squad.
“Mentally, having to understand I was almost back to square one was tough,” Perenara reflected.
“It wasn’t quite the exact same position because I had done so much rehab to improve other parts of my leg, but it was still hard to know the work we have put in had to be undone to rebuild again.”
But he is now back and determined to push Roigard and the Hurricanes’ other halfbacks for a start in Super Rugby Pacific’s form team, believing the fierce competition for the No 9 jersey will only help the unbeaten Hurricanes in their pursuit of a second championship.
“If decisions don’t go my way and I end up being on the bench or not in the 23, my mindset is still to be the best in the world in that role I’ve been given that week.
“That’s what drives me. Whether I’m starting, coming off the bench or not playing, I want to be the best in the world at my given role at any time.
“Whether I’m starting, coming off the bench or not playing, I want to be the best in the world at my given role at any time.’’
TJ Perenara
“Yes, there’s personal aspirations but it’s healthy for the team to be competitive.”
Perenara made his long-awaited comeback during the Hurricanes’ preseason, playing a 20-minute cameo against Moana Pasifika.
He was eased back with a game for the development team before coming off the bench against the Blues in round three.
Perenara made his first start as part of a new-look Hurricanes lineup in last Friday’s win against Melbourne Rebels and he looked back to his best, scoring the 59th try of his Super Rugby career to move level with Doug Howlett in third on the all-time list.
He is now just two short of the competition’s all-time leading try scorer, Julian Savea – one of his best mates.
“It felt really good [to be back],” Perenara said.
“It’s been 16-17 months on the sideline, rehab and a couple of surgeries. To get back on the field was awesome. I’ve played this game since I was a young kid and it’s the most time I’ve ever spent away from the game.
“To play the way I did, I was proud, but that’s just another step in the right direction and I know where I want to take my game and what I can offer. I know with the work I continue to put in that my game is going to grow.”
Perenara will be back on the bench when the 5-0 Hurricanes take on the Highlanders in Dunedin today, looking to improve on their best start since 2015.
The Hurricanes finished top of the table that year after winning their first seven matches, only to be tipped up by the Highlanders in the final.
Although he was thrilled by the way the Hurricanes have started under new coach Clark Laidlaw, he said it won’t count for much unless they can maintain it through to the end.
“We understand [2015] was a cool year for Hurricanes history and we’re currently doing pretty cool at the moment, but noone really cares unless you win the whole thing,” Perenara said.
“Our mindset is about winning and that’s not just on a Friday or a Saturday or a Super Rugby final, I want to win the next training session we have.
“We have got four halfbacks here who are really good and I want to be the best today at training, and if we have everyone trying to be the best they can be, then that’s going to allow us to be really competitive.”