Umaga’s comeback a recipe for regret
Roar Pro By itsuckstobeyou, 18 Feb 2011 itsuckstobeyou is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Carlos Spencer, Chiefs, Justin Harrison, Richard Kahui, rugby, Rugby Union, Super Rugby 2011, Tana Umaga
As a result of his selection at inside centre for the Chiefs’ encounter with the Brumbies this Saturday, Tana Umaga will be able to tell his grandchildren he was the oldest man to ever play Super Rugby. In fact, several of his grandchildren will likely be in the crowd.
The soon-to-be 38-year-old is defying his years and commonsense to start for the Chiefs, in place of the injured Richard Kahui. Incredibly, Umaga, who will also set a seemingly unbreakable record as the oldest sportsman to still be sporting dreadlocks, will mark Robbie Coleman, who was not yet six months old when Tana signed his first professional football contract.
It begs the question, why?
In recent years we’ve seen several comebacks which can only be described as failures and in some cases, completely heartbreaking.
Any Australian who watched Justin Harrison “run” out for the Brumbies last season would know the heartbreak I speak of. More of a set-piece consultant than a fire-breathing tower of mongrel, he did little more than scream out some numbers at the line-out for 30 minutes a match.
Worse still was Carlos Spencer.
Carlos was truly a magnificent player who paved the way for the modern 10. Ask Q. Cooper, Toomua or Beale, who they idolised growing up and you’ll get the answer “Spencer” without a second thought.
For the Lions, Carlos was emphatically terrible. Like the biggest of fish in the smallest of ponds, he floundered, seemingly gasping for air. With each match he turned out for them, he got worse.
For me, his comeback didn’t just tarnish his career. It fractured his aura.
So, why do it? Well for Harrison it was about redemption after drug allegations. For Spencer, I suspect it might have something to do with the SA Rugby record contract he was offered. Andrew Walker was helping the Reds out. Geoff Huegill was fat. Thorpey is broke. No one has uttered the words “Michael Klim” in five years.
Tana has nothing to gain. He is a hero to millions. No one cares that he went to Toulon to secure his family’s future and everyone loves him as much as they did the day he was handed the All Black captaincy. He is a great.
At best, his comeback can only cement how the rugby community already feel about him. More likely though, we will see vulnerabilities which were previously unseen.
As much as I wish him every success, sadly, comebacks tend to make mortals of Gods.
It’s a young man’s game. It’s fast. It’s physical. It’s cut-throat.
It’s not tiddlywinks.
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- Carlos Spencer, Chiefs, Justin Harrison, Richard Kahui, rugby, Rugby Union, Super Rugby 2011, Tana Umaga
February 18th 2011 @ 1:12am
ohtani's jacket said | February 18th 2011 @ 1:12am | Report comment
This is kind of interesting because I haven’t since it raised anywhere. Haven’t given it much thought to be honest. What do people really expect of Tana? It’s more of a novelty to me than anything else. I can’t imagine anyone takes it seriously.
February 18th 2011 @ 4:58am
Jerry said | February 18th 2011 @ 4:58am | Report comment
Tana’s well and truly in the “old warhorse” stage, I don’t think anyone’s expecting him to be running in 80 metre tries.
February 18th 2011 @ 5:20am
Moaman said | February 18th 2011 @ 5:20am | Report comment
“will mark Robbie Coleman, who was not yet six months old when Tana signed his first professional football contract.” Er….given that rugby went professional around 1996 was it? That Robbie Coleman must be a precocious talent!
I’m not expecting Tana to spend a lot of time on the field actually.I suspect he will be operating more off the bench or in the stands..bringing his experience,leadership and mana to the side.He was solid in the ITM but Super Rugby might be a bit too quick for the aged limbs!
February 18th 2011 @ 5:50am
Jerry said | February 18th 2011 @ 5:50am | Report comment
Tana did have a junior contract with the Newcastle Knights which would have been a few years earlier than that, so I guess it’s technically possible. In fact, a little wiki check says it was in 1991, so it seems the claim is accurate if you count junior contracts. Although at that age, it was probably Tana’s parents who actually signed the contract.
February 18th 2011 @ 8:06am
Ken said | February 18th 2011 @ 8:06am | Report comment
He would have been 18 in 1991 so it wouldn’t have been a junior contract and he probably signed it on his own
February 18th 2011 @ 8:17am
Jerry said | February 18th 2011 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Depends when the contract was signed! What month is Robbie Coleman’s birthday anyway, we need to get to the bottom of this.
Right – so having spent a good two minutes with google, Robbie Coleman was born 10 December 1990. Tana played Junior Kiwis in 1991, but apparently didn’t actually go to Newcastle till early 92. So he probably did sign the contract himself but Robbie Coleman was probably closer to a year old than 6 months. Though he would have been about 3 or 4 by the time Tana played NPC for Wellington.
February 18th 2011 @ 7:35am
Hanzo said | February 18th 2011 @ 7:35am | Report comment
I think hes capable of performing for 60 minutes per game for about 10 or 11 games this season, however i think if Chiefs coaching staff expect Tana to play 80 minutes for every game well then he definitely wont last, my guess is tho once Kahui (aka Mr Glass) comes back expect Tana to take a backseat.
February 18th 2011 @ 8:05am
Brett McKay said | February 18th 2011 @ 8:05am | Report comment
regardless of his age, it’ll still be good to see the great man running around tomorrow night. I’ve only ever seen him play live on a few occasions, it will be interesting to see just how well he’s still going..
February 18th 2011 @ 8:20am
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | February 18th 2011 @ 8:20am | Report comment
I’m with you on this one Brett. It will be good to see the great man in the flesh, I just hope he doesn’t embarrass himself, or more importantly, us for that matter.
February 18th 2011 @ 9:25am
Gareth said | February 18th 2011 @ 9:25am | Report comment
If you count Ruud Gullit’s coaching career, he might have Tana beat on the dreadlocks part.
February 18th 2011 @ 10:09am
Wylie said | February 18th 2011 @ 10:09am | Report comment
I love Tana – he looks like a half-man half-alien catfish warrior.
February 18th 2011 @ 10:56am
Gary Russell-Sharam said | February 18th 2011 @ 10:56am | Report comment
He is certainly a weird looking guy but for all that he could play rugby. I have to say I admired him greatly when he was the ABs captain and rated him the best centre in the world at the time. But I wonder what the other young up and coming centres in the Chief’ s playing roster think about all this. Surely there is a young centre that is better than old grandfather Umaga. I think if I was one of these young players I would be a bit disheartened about playing for the Chiefs if they thought an aging 38 year old is better than me. I can’t for the life of me imagine that at 38 you can be the best centre in the playing roster of the Chief’s side, surely this doesn’t say much for the standard of players that they have at their disposal. Don’t get me wrong I am a huge admirer of Umaga but at 38 I shake my head. Even if he is warming the seat for Kahui wouldn’t it be prudent to blood one of the young up-and-comers at the start and say bring Umaga on for the last ten minutes or so. I would have to say Umaga would be far more beneficial to the Chiefs as a mentor and a coach than as a player. Thats IMO.
February 18th 2011 @ 12:45pm
Geoff Brisbane said | February 18th 2011 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Hope he runs on current ability and not past abilities. Good luck to him and the Chiefs. Bring on the RUGBY