Ma'a Nonu will leave the Hurricanes at the end of the Super Rugby season in the first big move of new coach Mark Hammett's tenure.
The All Blacks midfielder was told yesterday he will not be offered a 10th season at the franchise.
The Chiefs are understood to be the frontrunners to secure the 29-year-old's service for 2012 and new coach Dave Rennie is also believed to be chasing the signature of at least one other big name in Wellington rugby.
Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni and coach Hammett were unavailable for comment last night, but the decision will be made official today.
Hammett has shed arguably the Hurricanes' biggest drawcard in terms of both bums on seats and sponsorship appeal at a time when there are dwindling crowds at Westpac Stadium.
And many fans will be asking why a player with 104 Super Rugby caps, a Wellington representative since 2002 and a Rongotai College old boy has effectively been shown the door in the prime of his career.
But it appears Nonu's ill-discipline on the field – he is one of Super Rugby's most penalised and yellow carded players – was a driver for the decision not to offer him another contract.
There's no doubt that Ma'a Nonu is a polarising player. At his best, he is one of the most devastating midfielders in world rugby. But he can also be a liability, with a penchant for giving away stupid penalties, or going missing at crucial times.
It seems that the appointment of Dave Rennie as Chiefs coach next year is pivotal to Nonu's departure, even moreso than Mark Hammett's arrival at the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes board must be questioning the wisdom of its coaching appointment, given reported personality clashes between Hammett and some of his charges, and some worful performances by the 'Canes in what has possibly been their worst-ever season.
There's one positive; if nothing else, Nonu's pending departure will add some spice to the Hurricanes' match this weekend; against the Chiefs. It will be interesting to see what part the Hamilton-bound Nonu plays this weekend.
6 comments:
While I agree with much of your analysis on the dark goings on Iv2 I wonder at two points.
First how much was the appointment of Hammer, the doing of the Hurricanes Board and how much was it the "interference" of the NZRFU to get Jamie Joseph to the struggling Highlanders Franchise something that until three weeks ago at the end of the Crusaders reality check apparently inspired thinking and seemed to be working, in an attempt to arrest the flakey nature of the talent laden Yellow and Blacks.
Which leads me to my second point was Hammer's appointment an attempt to transfer a bit of the clearly understood Crusaders Culture so successfully built by Robbie Deans with a committed believer in Mark Hammett seemingly blocked by the Blackadder occupation and seen by some as much needed.
Comment has often been made about the special needs of coaching the Blues with the heavy influence of the polynesian factor, are the Hurricanes any different.
The Hurricanes were supposed to be all about building a team culture this year, hence the reported Over looking of Zac Guilford for his penchant for gambling and the total refusal to seek help for it.
Nonu needed the likes of Umaga to keep him in check. Having seen the way he acts in the street after a night out boozing, his excessively large ego, and lack of self control on occasions is the direct cause for his need to go. He undermines the authority of his superiors, and so leaves little choice to Hammett et al but to make him a free agent, in the interests of building that team unity. The Hurricanes will be a better team next year.
My first thought: Is pdm a secret advisor to the Hurricanes?
My second thought: Ivan Cleary really should pick up the phone.
In the 15 years since Super rugby began no coach has managed to bring discipline to the Hurricanes so good luck to Hammett.
Mort I agree with most of what you say except Umaga is perhaps not the great role model you say - remember the `silly walk' in Christchurch and the `handbag' incident.
GD - Wayne Smith was also instumental in setting up the Crusaders culture. Deans took it up and ran hard with it when he changed from team manager to coach.
JS - thanks for the compliment. perhaps Hammet reads Keeping Stock and The Sports Geek. lol.
One final thing - Hammet will need to import a Captain for next year. There is no one in the current squad that is capable of doing the job.
Colin Cooper came from the Crusaders. He did a lot better with the Canes than Hammett has so far. The Canes were contenders at the top under him not the bottom as they are with Hammett
anon - they never won anything under Cooper. When the pressure went on the so called stars Nonu, Weepu, Smith and others wilted into oblivion.
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