There has been much angst in the New Zealand capital after the Hurricanes lost no less than 14 players during the Super Rugby off-season.
After losing the likes of Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Hosea Gear and Andrew Hore – names that for years were the face of the franchise – many pundits have predicted that the ‘Canes will end the competition cold, dead, last.
Those pundits have some very good arguments for their apocalyptic predictions. Gone are the razzle- dazzle rugby players the Hurricanes have become known for, replaced with a rag-tag bunch of misfits, journeymen and up-and-comers looking for more game time.
There is, however, one key person who remains at the helm of the Hurricanes. Mark Hammett has been criticised by all and sundry in Wellington, blamed for the mass exodus that has happened from the capital.
All is not lost, however. The Hurricanes have been known throughout the years as inconsistent.
One week they would play as though there was no side in the competition that could beat them, the next they would look as though they were foreign to the sport, having never seen a rugby game let alone played one.
The culture of a side who so readily accept mediocrity when they have such explosive power has to be questioned. A side with Weepu, Nonu, Gear and Hore, along with many other All Blacks past and present, should be winning. Winning week in, week out.
With a change of team may come a change of culture. One only has to look where Hammett has come from to see an example of a winning culture.
Hammett played seven years of Rugby for the Crusaders and Canterbury before becoming the forwards and then assistant coach of the most successful rugby team in the world.
It can only be assumed that Hammett isn’t used to losing and now that it’s happened more often he’s found he doesn’t like it.
Seemingly Hammett is trying to change the way rugby is thought about in Wellington. He is trying to create a culture where winning is not requested; it is required.
A culture where losing is unacceptable. He has removed those players who, for whatever reason, do not agree with the culture he is trying to implement.
Sports teams around the world have had their sides cleaned out in an attempt to change the culture, some with great success. The most recent example in Australasian Sport is Brisbane Roar.
When Ange Postecoglou took over the roar in late 2009 they were in crisis. Crowd numbers were down and the Roar were in the midst of a slump that would see them win just one of seven games.
At the end of that season the Roar finished second last. During the start of his tenure Postecoglou retrenched players who were not a part of his vision for a successful football club. Charlie Miller, Bob Malcolm and Craig Moore were all moved on, even though they had prestigious careers at a high level.
The next season the Roar recruited well and created a culture where winning was the only option. They learnt how to win consistently – and believed they could win in any situation, as they did in the grand final of 2010/11.
In that match, down 2-0 with 12 minutes to go in extra time, the team pulled off the most remarkable of victories.
I am not for a second suggesting the Hurricanes will win the competition – at least not this season. They won’t. However, the catastrophe that many are predicting will not come to fruition.
Given a season or two to develop his new recruits, Hammett may be able to work this side into a team that will win, and win consistently. A team that, unlike the star-studded ‘canes sides of the past, is able to win a Super Rugby title.
In a few seasons supporters of the capital’s rugby franchise may look back at the exodus of the off season just gone and see a blessing, rather than the nightmare they feel like they are currently enduring.
Rugbug
Guest
What do you mean "when they had the shield" ??? Taranaki are current Ranfurly Shield Holders, surely as a Magpies fan you must remember Hawekes Bay failed in their bid int he last shield defense of 2011 with the Naki winning comfortably in the end. Arguably Taranaki are also the top team in the Hurricanes region finishing third in the premiership, some would say Manawatu as they won all their matches against the partners however it seems the Naki result was not without controversy, with their (Turbos) final try coming after a player had stepped out of field / on the line. Like I said above Katz yes HB have one or two superstars well one genuine in Dagg and another good AB in Guildford however the Naki also has a few in Hore and Hoeata not to mention up and comer Beauden Barrett. Personally I believe Taranaki is better placed than the Bay to supply a healthier number of players to the SR franchises but like I said I am a little biased to my own team as are you. It all swings in roundabouts. So many people seem to disregard what the Naki achieves with one of if not the smallest Premiership unions in the country.
p.Tah
Guest
Love to watch the replay of this game which was scheduled on Fox at 8pm but they are playing... Women's Golf... FFS...
zhenry
Guest
Hammet was pushed into the Hurricane coaching job by NZRU supremo Tew. Hurr. and Wgton. selection process had nothing to do with it, established selection process were completely ignored in fact, however newly resigned head Hurr. administrator Peters (now SANZA supremo - down road from ONeill) had much to do with the culture at the Hurricanes. Agree that HB Manawatu and Taranaki should play a more prominent role. Tew was responding to one of his abysmal executive decisions with O'Neil in allowing more than Argentineans into Super Rugby: The Argentineans were not a problem but allowing SANZA countries freer access to cross boundaries with coaches and players, was. Obviously it suited O’Neil but not NZ, no matter Tew agreed as always with his ‘junior rugby partner’ and AU owned NZ media. Tew was responding to the result of his mad decision; which was the quick off the mark Rod MacQueen who wanted Hammet to help him out at the Rebels. Tew bitterly complained to O’Neil that NZ did not train its rugby personnel to be prematurely grabbed by the (depleted and over wrought TV wallpaper crowd - didn’t actually use those words) ARU. Why did Tew allow O’Neil’s sneaky addition in the first place? Tew’s solution was to promptly pack Hammet off to the Hurricanes as head coach - without any head coaching experience and straight from his assist coach position with Crusaders. Of course Tew is not challenged by the AU owned NZ media for initiating this debacle at the Hurricanes, completely overlooked, instead we get this PR generalized comment that something had to happen, because the Hurricanes had never won a Super premiership and the admin of the franchises had changed and that is what happens – s..t just happens. Rubbish. Look at the number of teams that have won a Super premiership and look at the number of times most of them have won it. The whole process was not fair on the players involved or Hammet. The Hurricanes deserved a proper selection process and the extreme processes of a rookie coach were not necessary. Shocked to see Hammet’s recent photo on the stuff site, he looks fraught, I hope he can get some success out of the whole mess, which will not in any way condone Tew’s reckless decision; a more experienced coach would most likely be further ahead at this stage.
johnny-boy
Guest
CCrrraazzyyyyyyyy :)
KevKom
Guest
JOnKErs!
Lachie
Guest
Going back to the quota idea it never works -it's a reaction ( understandably) to the fact that the decisions made in this franchise are skewed in favor of Wellington province and not in the interests of the franchise as a whole The issue for me is the first decision to be made was not the appointment of Hammett ( it may or may not be the correct choice ) but the firing of the entire management board of this franchise ( assuming there is one )who are directly responsible for the situation and then Recruit a new board ( with reps from wellgtn HB Naki and Manuwatu ALlL with sound provincial background in rugby administration ) and get to work because the bottom line is a lot to ...board should have gone years ago
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
DS Understand where you're coming from. Regardless of the rugby politics with selection within the Canes catchment area, it's not the players fault so I will still be willing and cheering the Canes on as I've always done. Call me crazy but I've tipped them to beat the Stormers tonight based on nothing but a hope that a team with no expectations can often rise to the occasion.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
RB ... It wouldn't surprise me that he does own the place - but I'm sure it was originally a rugby park ... All I'm saying is the ingredients were there to make it work - the tui brewery the ground and a bloke with vision who must have known some of the brewery bigwigs - the chances of it working in say kaponga would have been nil (well possibly not nil given the Crowley clan are from there) - but you can see what I'm saying - the hurricanes I'm sure had no input into it - they just lucked onto someone clever enough who got the ball rolling
katzilla
Roar Guru
My question wasn't meant to be taken as an implication that the Naki are involved. I simply thought that Mace was a Naki poster (thought I had seen him post that before but it was a mix up) If anything historically the Naki have been worse off, for awhile Manawatu and Hawkes Bay were 2nd div teams, whereas the Naki has always been there or thereabouts. They were getting screwed when they even had the shield. A quota system would definitely work, and those 3 Hawkes Bay stars is what's bad about it. They shouldn't have had to leave. Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and to a lesser degree the Naki, will never provide the bulk of a Canes team. But 3-4 in the wider squad every year will stop future superstars going elsewhere.
Rugbug
Guest
I'm pretty sure it is the farmers paddock DS, I can see where your going with this though
Rugbug
Guest
Whats your issue witht the Naki ? The Naki are just as hard done by when it comes to the Hurricanes and rarely have more than four or five in the Canes this year being an exception. Reality is whilst HB are a good team, aside from the obvious superstars in Dagg, Guildford and to some degree Elliott they don't have that many standout performers. Yes they have good solid team members but so does Manawatu, Taranaki and Wellington, reality is you can't give them all a crack and someone has to make the hard calls on who makes the grade. We could argue until the cows come home on who should be in the team and depending on where your loyalty lies you / I will argue for those that we know more about its human nature and unfortunately misguided loyalty can lead to questionable selections and ommissions to any squad. If any one province should feel aggreived in the Hurricanes region it should be Manawatu who beat all their Hurricanes partners in 2011
Sage
Guest
I can assure you I allways read your posts properly Mace. I promise. Here's to a new rugby year hey.
darwin stubby
Guest
all power to him ... but sure I'm that's Mangatinoka old rugby ground - and the brewery would have had some input from the start .... I'm not doubting he wasn't the driving force behind it and good on him ... but as I say it merely highlights the type of support the hurricanes have chosen to ignore
Onor
Guest
Darwin stubby... I disagree with you.
mace 22
Guest
Maybe just maybe the blues will play the game we all know is just under the surface. But hey been here before. Also You know a storm always starts with a small gust of wind.
allblackfan
Guest
FYI: that preseason thing at Mangatinoka had nothing to do with the sponsor. It was driven by the farmer who owns the land. He woke up one day and decided why the hell not? (Hence Mangatinoka, of all places). That's why, every year, he and his mates prepare the ground, get the grandstands, organise a canteen etc. The brewery came on board in terms of supplying beer and a bit of marketing but this is purely done by the people for the people. It's actually growing now; this year it went international. A couple from HK and another from Australia attended the game. 8000 spectators flocking to a farm paddock in an area with about 2000 residents would indicate that people still feel that connection
darwin stubby
Guest
Mate - that's a great concept which frankly has nothing to do with Hurricanes ingenuity ... that is purely a sponsor driven idea which has grown into where it is now - and fell into the hurricanes lap ..... it actually reiterates exactly what I've been saying ... the hurricanes should have done far more to engage their provincal partners - there was demand and loyal supporters willing to back this lot early on .... now they've lost it
Onor
Guest
Everyone loves a winning team. but they are trying... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLiiFXmv6dM
Onor
Guest
hammet wasnt appointed by the NZRU.. he was appointed by wellington rugby. all these ppl going blah blah bla... need to sort themselves out.. hammet inhereted "colin coopers" mess. Dude hammet has friggin balls... to go into the canes team culture and see ego's on show and individuals and say "not in my house guys" and clear out the ones that were playing up... and then fill the team with youngsters and say ... "these will be your next all blacks, your next cullens and umangas and collins and lomus.. is awesum.. im cheifs by blood and blues by nature... but am so looking forward to when this canes team fires and all rthe supporters come back on board.. its gunna be a great year for nz rugby!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Onor
Guest
last nights game in auckland showed a little of the talent on hand.. we have so much depth again.. looking forward to seeing big brad sheilds and bauden barret getting stuck in this year... but eh.. the canes and there small blowing wind has nothing on the might of the bluesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol...