Joe Wheeler rues semi final loss
The Tasman Makos' 44-24 loss to Auckland in Friday's national provincial championship rugby semi final meant there was no icing on Joe Wheeler's cake.
Having been involved in the Highlanders' triumphant march to the Super Rugby crown, the hard-working lock had his eye on an NPC title with Tasman, but it wasn't to be.
"It was obviously not the way we wanted to finish," said Wheeler. "Auckland were just better than us … they played a fantastic brand of footy and took it to us and we didn't respond as we would have liked.
For the squad we've got we should have done a bit better than what we produced. It was disappointing to go out on that note."
Wheeler felt the class of 2015 was the strongest Makos squad he has been involved in, adding to the angst of falling short.
"The management team have done a great job in getting the squad together … we just didn't play to our potential for the whole season.
There was something missing, I'm not sure what it was … maybe our defense more than anything. That was the disappointing part of the last month of our season.
"The culture in the camp was spot on. We have got guys that have been there for a long time, who have gone through thick and thin for the jersey. Maybe a little bit of fatigue crept in and perhaps some complacency."
The fact that Tasman were able to call on a full side who had played Super Rugby created plenty of pre-season optimism, but was it a double-edged sword?
"It's great that we now have this side that's a full professional outfit, pretty much all the guys are full-time footy players," said Wheeler. "But it does impact. It is a big year footy-wise for a lot of guys and it's also pretty new to some … in terms of perking it up season to season and making sure you keep producing the goods.
"We'll be better for it though. Guys will be coming back next year and will hopefully be really hungry to perform week-in, week-out.
Wheeler is halfway through two-year contracts with both the Highlanders and Tasman, and is keen to return to the Makos for 2016, especially with a new coaching team [Leon MacDonald and Mark Hammett] taking up the reins.
"I think it's pretty important that we keep the leadership group, especially myself and Shane [Christie], and make sure we produce the goods for [Leon] so it's an easy transition. I'm really excited about what next year holds."
While he is buoyed by the potential for further success under a new coaching regime, the 26-year-old Wheeler had some final words for his departing mentor, Kieran Keane.
"The contribution he has made to Tasman rugby has been massive. The growth that we have seen in this side under him has been special. Both in terms of the rugby and what he's done for a lot of guys.
"He's been a huge part of my career, and my development, not only as a rugby player but also as a man. I can't say enough words to describe what a champion man he is. He bleeds for the jersey and the province. We are just very lucky to be a part of what he's done."
