Emerging superstar Damian McKenzie has spurned guaranteed starts as playmaker at other New Zealand Super Rugby teams to extend his stay at the Chiefs until 2018.
Arguably the hottest attacking property in the competition, the 21-year-old has added two years to his existing two-season contract.
Signing the diminutive utility back is a sizeable coup for the Chiefs, whose five-point lead atop the overall standings has been built around the brilliance of McKenzie.
Playing at fullback, he tops a number of the competition’s attacking statistics, including most tries (7) and points (120), plus most running metres (724m) and most defenders beaten (41), while he’s fourth for offloads and also clean breaks.
McKenzie revealed he had been approached by two other New Zealand teams and answered “potentially” when quizzed if they were the Blues and Crusaders.
“I had the opportunity to play 10 (five eighth) somewhere else and focus solely on that but playing 15 (fullback) at the moment, I’m really enjoying that,” he told NZ Newswire.
“There were opportunities elsewhere and it took a lot of thought but I was leaning towards the Chiefs most of the time with what they’ve done for me so far.”
The former age group star and Maori All Black said wearing No.10 is a long-term goal but he is enjoying the freedom of fullback, having played every minute of all nine games there this year.
Picking up tips from current and former All Blacks five-eighths Aaron Cruden and Stephen Donald at the Chiefs was also a bonus.
“At fullback I’ve got a licence to do what I want at times. I’m allowed to get into first receiver,” he said.
“And learning off Cruds and Beaver is pretty awesome. They’re players I looked up to when I was younger.”
McKenzie agreed a shift to the Crusaders would have held some appeal as he went to school in Christchurch and his older brother Marty is on their books. However, he wasn’t keen for the sibling rivalry that could develop over their shared desire to wear No.10.
Listed as weighing 80kg, McKenzie could become one of the lightest All Blacks selected for years if his form warrants a call-up for the home series against Wales in June.
He isn’t letting the possibility of a Test jersey play on his mind.
“You’ve always higher goals but I’m just trying to take it week by week.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”
lassitude
Guest
I doubt it. We have a brand new midfield and possibly a brand new 10-12-13 combo to field agin a very good Welsh midfield. It'll be steady as you go around that.Injury aside, McKenzie won't start or usurp Barrett's super-sub thing either. He might get called into a wider training though and that might be his in for the EOYT and possibly even RC.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes and 13 minutes after that the Jester from Leicester Mark Selby won the World Snooker championship in Sheffield. Good place to party at the mo I'm guessing?...and it's a staunch rugby town down there at Welford road!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes, and add in the familiarity of the grounds vs the Welsh dire tour record in NZ...he's a good place.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Me too Shaun. If anyone new is selected, Mac must be first off the block and no way on earth Hansen will run a three test series against a NH side without introducing new caps...no way whatsoever. He would view doing that as a hugely wasted opportunity. Especially at this point of the four year cycle. New ABs are screaming out for selection this year.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes I know the drill, I'm just getting very used to seeing Hansen back his selections which in the past would have been quite controversial. Yes it's test match rugby but I look at Wales here, possibly the worst touring side of all the major players with not even a sniff of one close match at 41-7, 6 tries to one. It has very good seasoned internationals but again, players like Davies and Roberts have between them lost 12 or so tests for no wins vs the ABs. Again, I know it has no bearing on this tour, this side. But for me pressure is relative, and Wales will be feeling it far more than anything Mackenzie will be. I see it as a challenge, but not a risk. And in all honesty, I think Hansen is more than comfortable selecting Mac at FB for Wales. He does have to hone a newish centre pairing so all three might be pushing out a bit and for that reason I think Smith will be there. For the RC, no. That would depend on the Wales performances. But with Hansen, in a new 'era' there's bound to be some 'gee, didn't think he'd do that' factor. It wouldn't be Hansen not to do something different or surprising.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
It's a test match against a tier one nation Tman. The pressure is higher than any super rugby match. My thoughts are on the wing he has got the option of letting the game come to him a little more than at fullback.
CUW
Guest
that i have no idea , all i know is that he played for NZ7s in the HSBC world series in 2014. maybe he played before also .
CUW
Guest
@ mania : every country has talent. its just that in urs (assuming ur a nzder ) 90% goes to rugger and the balance , usually those who dont make it in rugger , go to other games / sports. it happens all over the world bit the major difference is the numbers vary. for example in usa most go to nfl or bb depending on the body type. those who dont make it goto athletics. the very famos carlin isles started out at junior american footy and track. when he did not make it in either sport / game , he moved into rugger. when u put all ur resources into one thing, the probability of sucess is much higher :D
jon
Guest
is Naholo a NZ citizen? If not, I don't think he qualifies for the Olympics.
mania
Guest
agree shaun, tho they said the same thing in 2012 and we didn't have much of an exodus then. this year is different though in that we had a major exodus of talent, the best of the best left, but now a whole bunch of new talent are putting up their hands saying they want those vacant ABs jerseys. I really cant believe how much talent we have to choose from. an embarrassment of riches. when I said last year that I was looking forward to the this years ABs I really didn't realise how much choice we had. guys like tamanivalu who've been around for awhile are only this year shining. good times to be an ABs supporter. this is a golden era
Shaun
Guest
Yeah not the whole side, but regularly being up against the best opposite numbers in the world must count for something
Shaun
Guest
'his attacking threat comes from kick returns and broken plays' - this is literally 90% of the role of a fullback. It is exactly where you want them to be dangerous. And Mckenzie has a habit of being everywhere on the field, and in recent times with the ABs encouraging the offload game, I think he will excel. I would be willing to bet $1000 that he will get at least some game time in June
Shaun
Guest
im loving how this was supposed to be a year when the All Blacks struggled the most, but its looking like the most depth they've had in years!
ebop
Guest
I'm a DMc fan. For the Chiefs, he does a bit of lone wolf stuff that has ended up in some brilliant team tries. But usually with the ABs, they don't like lone wolfs scampering up field only to get isolated. Naholo was guilty of that a little bit. If he does make the ABs, will his youthful enthusiasm get reined in and reduce his ace up the sleeve?
mania
Guest
either way its good times for the ABs selectors. I'm looking forward to this years ABs ps - and as an aside; 2 players with a boot just as big as daggs is jamesLowe and charlieNgatai
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes He could be left for the EOYT but for me not because of his age or any perceived risk, but more about where Hansen sees him in the overall plan. It's VERY typical of Hansen to use the Welsh series as an opportunity to blood new players. He has experimented extensively with the June tours since they started,mand Mackenzie is first off the block in that regard, so I'd be very (very) surprised if Mac is not capped during that series. 21 is no reason for Hansen not to select. He put Savea and NMS in at very young ages no problem, and they thrived, so more the reason to put Mac in. He does this to get the jump on World rugby. Back the system get them in as soon as they're ready, where overseas sides flinch at the thought, and take too long to introduce them, Kerevi a prime example.
taylorman
Roar Guru
So None of the players in the NZ conference sides are as good as the likely Welsh side? Very good then.
Not Bothered
Guest
And Tuilagi, Kruis, Launchbury, Nowell, Lawes and co wont make the English 6 nats squad...oh wait, they did. SBW wont make the Rio squad is another one of yours. Now there is no way McKenzie will get a gig for the ABs. Your just full of great predictions.
Not Bothered
Guest
Wales national team is not weaker than any Super Rugby team ffs. Im not saying it would beat all Super Rugby teams all the time but to say that McKenzie has been up against better players all year is quite silly.
CUW
Guest
even now , am sure , the MIB 7s will welcome him to the fold - especially as Ben Lam is gone. its where naholo made a name after being a bit part player with the blues. after the 7s success he moved to a new team and became a hit. but just maybe the timiing is not right , after getting injured and just coming back....