Quakes don’t shake loyal players
A red-zoned centre, traffic snarls and a depleted nightlife circuit. It’s hardly the stuff of glossy brochures.
For a young rugby player earning a substantial pay packet, the prospect of remaining in Christchurch could force them to think twice before inking a deal with the Crusaders.
Yet despite the city’s troubles since the earthquakes the franchise continues to re-sign players.
Last week All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read, who was born and raised in the upper North Island, revealed he was eager to remain in the city with his young family.
This was despite his house being damaged and the family relocating to a new abode on the northern outskirts.
Shifting from the Crusaders, said Read, did not appeal. This is a recurring theme among many Crusaders players.
When publicly discussing their contract options they often talk about their desire to stay, of ‘‘hopefully working something out’’ so they can keep turning up for business to work alongside their friends.
Midfielder Ryan Crotty is another who has re-signed despite being a likely target for other franchises. Retaining players is a constant chore and Todd Blackadder works, mostly with high performance manager Steve Lancaster, to convince men to stay.
Blackadder says ‘‘8 or 9’’ of his players were off-contract at the end of this campaign timetable involves sitting down with players to discuss their goals and futures, dealing with agents and the New Zealand Rugby Union and keeping a wary eye on what the other franchise coaches are up to.
‘‘Our guys are constantly under siege because they can get promised the world and their value is a lot more because they are here and they are more sought after,’’ Blackadder added.
‘‘We talk about the modern game and players chasing money. But our guys are staying and re-contracting for the right reasons because they want to stay here.’’
Developing players is also part of Blackadder’s job. That is what the NZRU, who dole out the wages, expect from him.
He tries to win titles and they, in turn, have an employee who grooms and produces young men capable of representing the All Blacks.
That is where it also can become a double-edged sword.
As the players earn a profile and earn test caps after increasing their profile in a successful team like the Crusaders their market value leaps. Ten Crusaders are in the All Blacks squad.
Blackadder knows that when he has got more All Blacks than any other franchise in action during the June test window he runs the risk of carrying more overworked wounded men in his squad.
As a former Crusaders captain who led the team to their three title wins in
Right reasons: 1998-2000, and was intimately involved in building the franchise after they finished last in the Super competition’s inaugural year in 1996, he says the loyalty factor shouldn’t be understated.
‘‘One of our points of difference is there is a personal attachment to the jersey and what it means. They really want to play for the people and the community. It’s about work ethic, team-mates, family, pride, high expectations and scrutiny.
‘‘It’s interesting because players have got so many options these days. But ultimately it comes down to whether the player is enjoying where they are playing.’’