Shields of dreams: The ultimate pro
Eddie Jones wasn’t the first coach to covet Brad Shields. Long before the Hurricanes loose forward declared his intent to play for England, plenty of schools were interested in him.
Leaving Taita College might’ve won him more acclaim and the prestige of selection in the Wellington, Hurricanes or New Zealand Schools sides. Instead he stuck tight, winning the Wellington fourth-division title with Taita and telling himself that the individual rewards would come if he worked hard enough.
Last night in Dunedin, the now 27-year-old became the 14th man to play 100 games for the Hurricanes. He’s the first non-All Black to do it, but that doesn’t mean his standing is any lower than the 13 Hurricanes who’ve gone before him.
Such as Dane Coles, who holds Shields in the very highest esteem.
‘‘He first came into the [Wellington] Lions in 2010 and we’ve become real good mates over that time. Not just [for] his leadership, work ethic and being an awesome rugby player, but just how much of a good person he is,’’ Coles said.
‘‘Like we get on pretty good and he’s worked bloody hard to get where he is.
‘‘I know he loves the team and it’s been a massive part of his career and to see him get to a hundred games is a credit to him.
‘‘He probably hasn’t had the [All Blacks] accolades he was after, but he’s made his decision. He stuck round and worked hard and I know it was always a massive goal to play a hundred games for the Hurricanes and it’s not bad for a boy from Taita to do that.’’
It’s not the numbers, though. It’s the way Shields has played those games, the way he’s trained and conducted himself and done whatever was best for the team.
‘‘That’s what I love about him,’’ Coles said.
‘‘He’s always the last guy off the field. He always takes the pads off the posts, just little things like that.
‘‘In the gym he’s always the last one to leave. Like he does everything on his programme. The young guys are a different breed now and we’ve had to upskill them and we’ve honestly used him as an example so many times.
‘‘Like ‘just watch Brad Shields. Just watch what he does. His preparation, he’s a good person, the work.
‘‘Watch him and you’ll be away laughing in your rugby career’. He’s been a massive part of us being a more consistent and professional environment.’’
Richard Watt knows that as well as anyone. He’s been Hurricanes forwards coach throughout Shields’ career and did the same for Wellington before that.
Everyone’s a great fella and a fine player when the wins are flowing. It’s seasons such as Shields’ first as Wellington captain, when the team lost nine games in a row and was relegated, when the truly admirable step forward.
‘‘I think about that year from hell we had in 2014 and he led us through that campaign and for him to front the way he did after every game, all those losses and with the dignity and humility that he did it and the mana. It was hard coming to work on Mondays but he was always there, always looking forward to the next game,’’ Watt said.
Watt’s one of those blokes with a genuine love for his players, someone who sees what they put themselves through, how brave they are, what challenges they face off the park.
You could probably get him to speak glowingly about all of them. Shields is special, though.
‘‘I don’t like putting players ahead of players but, jeez, he’s the full package, Brad Shields. He’s a good man, good character, good leader, good rugby player. He ticks every box,’’ Watt said.
‘‘He’s good to coach. I’ve coached players over the years and they get to a point where they think they know everything and all of a sudden they become hard to coach because they don’t listen. Brad’s always open-minded, he’s always working with you to get better for himself and the team.’’
Shields will take up a contract with English club Wasps at the end of this season. Watt will be among the many people sad to see the blindside flanker go.
‘‘He’ll be a good husband, a good father, a good mate, a good son, a good uncle. He’s just a great bloke. It’s all down to his parents,’’ Watt said.
It’s his parents’ English ancestry that has allowed Shields to play for England, starting with this month’s three-test series against South Africa. New Zealand meet England in November and it’s that game that’s helping push Coles, the Hurricanes and All Blacks hooker, along in his rehab from knee surgery.
Coles would rather have stayed friends, than foes, but you can’t have everything.
‘‘I’m gutted. I would’ve loved to play one more game with him. If things go right I might be playing against him, but I would’ve loved to run out with him in his 100th but it’s not to be. He’ll be dearly missed in this team,’’ Coles said.