Success breeds success [Nelson Mail]
The Tasman Makos' success in this year's ITM Cup has flowed to the next level with 10 players, including six newcomers, named in New Zealand Super Rugby squads or wider training groups for 2014 yesterday.
Most notably, hooker and 2013 Blues player Quentin MacDonald has missed out on a contract, while prop Tim Perry has moved from the Blues to the Crusaders.
Player of the year for a Makos team that won 10 from 12 and earned promotion to the NPC's top tier by claiming the ITM Cup championship title, 25-year-old MacDonald had three seasons with the Crusaders before shifting to the Blues last year. Despite his superb form for the Makos, the Blenheim-born No 2 has missed out at the Blues to veteran All Black Keven Mealamu, Auckland's Tom McCartney and James Parsons of North Harbour.
Perry collected seven caps for the Blues in his debut Super season last year and his consistently strong play for the Makos has seen Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder pick him for the seven-time champions. The Ashburton-born loosehead is one of five props in the squad, alongside All Blacks Owen Franks and Wyatt Crockett and Canterbury duo Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala. Powerful Makos centre Kieron Fonotia has been named as one of five in the Crusaders wider training group.
Tasman utility forward Joe Wheeler, who is currently on his first tour with the Maori All Blacks, will be on the second year of a two-year deal with the Highlanders and will probably be competing for a spot in the second row with former All Black Brad Thorn, Southland's Josh Bekhuis, Taranaki's Jarrad Hoeata and Otago newcomer Tom Franklin. Outstanding Tasman skipper Shane Christie, who has moved from the Crusaders, is one of six loose forwards in the Highlanders squad.
Four Makos will be with two-time defending champions the Chiefs. Utility back Tom Marshall has shifted from the Crusaders, while wing-fullback James Lowe and loose forward Liam Squire have been rewarded for strong ITM Cup campaigns with their first Super contracts. Loose forward Tevita Koloamatangi is in the wider training group.
The Hurricanes have signed two Tasman players who have come from left field to join the Super Rugby ranks. First five-eighth and fullback Marty Banks played in the Heartland Championship last year and even missed out on the Makos initial squad this season. However, he became one of the stars of this year's ITM Cup and finished with 170 points to be the competition's joint leading points-scorer.
Halfback Billy Guyton is in the wider training group and has also come from the Heartland Championship. He signed for the Makos to provide first five-eighth and second five-eighth cover and ended the season as the team's first-choice halfback, a position he hadn't played for several years.
New Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Tony Lewis said it was "fantastic" to get so many Makos in Super Rugby squads and gave credit to coaches Kieran Keane, Leon MacDonald and the players. "If you're in an environment where everyone performs then everything looks after itself. In the last two weeks we've had three players named in the Maoris, we've picked up a number of Super contracts, a number of wider training contracts and we've also picked up a championship title.
"It clearly shows that the board who made the decision three or four years ago to appoint Kieran and Leon, and virtually give them an opportunity to create their destiny, [made the right choice] and they deserve credit for it."
Meanwhile, Crusaders new Fijian recruit Nemani Nadolo could play for the Makos next year.
One of five new signings for the Crusaders, Nadolo's provincial team was listed as Tasman in the press release sent out by the Crusaders yesterday. Lewis was unable to confirm the giant wing-centre would be part of the Makos set-up next year, but didn't deny that may be the case.
"All I can say is the Crusaders and the Tasman Rugby Union are working very very closely together on a number of projects that will come to fruition in the next month," Lewis said.
"He is listed as one of our players, but we've got a number of things that we will hopefully be able to announce in the next month . . . we think it's critically important that the Crusaders embrace the Makos and we work together for the betterment of the Crusaders franchise."
A member of Japanese club side the NEC Green Rockets, 25-year-old Nadolo has eight test caps for Fiji and was a member of the Waratahs in 2009.
Blackadder was excited to have Nadolo on board.
"At 1.95m and nearly 130kg, he is an absolute hulk of a man, yet he can fly down the field like you wouldn't believe for a man that size.
"Comparisons have been drawn with Jonah Lomu, and we can't wait to work with him and unleash him in this competition."
- © Fairfax NZ News
