Samu Kerevi’s announcement that he will be leaving Australia for Japan after this international season was undoubtedly a sad day for rugby fans all over Australia, but especially so for those of us who support his Super Rugby team, the Queensland Reds.
Undoubtedly every one of us was hoping for a last-minute miracle deal to keep Kerevi in red, but it didn’t work out that way and he is off to ply his trade at Suntory Sungolith. So, for now at least, all we can do is to remember the four fantastic years of rugby he has given us and hope he returns.
From the moment Kerevi started with the Reds in 2015, the class and his future as a Wallaby was apparent to all who watched, with a characteristic bullocking run and silky offload for a try assist against the Western Force being one of the first memories he gave us.
He topped many of the Reds attacking statistics that year and was a serious contender to bolt into the Wallabies for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He didn’t make that World Cup squad, but made the Wallabies in 2016 and has done both the red and the gold jerseys proud ever since.
Kerevi’s superpower is terrorising hapless defenders with his blockbusting ball running and silky skills. He’s scored five tries this season, assisting six and leading Super Rugby in terms of metres run (1438) and offloads (29).
But it isn’t his natural gifts that really set Kerevi apart. Rather, it is his character apparent to all who watch him that he has really bought to the Reds.
One standout indicator of this was that whenever Kerevi was interviewed after a good game early in his career, he would refuse to dwell in a backslapping session with the reporter, but rather would talk about aspects of his game he needed to improve.
He had a fair bit of trouble with defence over the first couple of years, but worked relentlessly on it until it improved, just as he also worked hard to improve other aspects of his game including kicking and playmaking.
His work rate has also always been phenomenal, he could be seen going into contact and offloading, leaping to his feet and chasing the ball to the opposite side of the park for the next attacking opportunity. As such, he inevitably topped the runs and metres run counts for the Reds, demonstrating phenomenal fitness for a big unit and an even more phenomenal will to win.
Off the field and in the media, he has always been passionate about his team but also a gentleman. Both these traits were amply demonstrated on one occasion where he slipped up and inadvertently swore on camera, immediately apologising to his mum.
Kerevi was made captain of the Reds this season and it is hard not to notice how his positive attitude has made a major contribution to the positive team culture forming in the Reds. Sure, the Reds table position isn’t great (with six wins and in 14th place), but this Super Rugby season is incredibly tight, with all but the top four teams and the last-placed Sunwolves having between five and seven wins.
The Reds points difference, tries for and tries against statistics have all considerably improved over last season and they aren’t suffering the regular humiliating floggings they did for a number of years now.
Kerevi’s example of how to be a genuinely professional rugby player will surely have been a major factor in the improvement and hopefully will have permanently rubbed off on the talented group of players who will stay in Queensland, hopefully to take the club to greater things in 2020 and beyond.
Reds fans have one more Super Rugby game this season in which to enjoy watching Kerevi play, for the time being at least, when the Reds take on the Brumbies in Canberra tonight. The conference leading Brumbies are expected to win, but they had better watch out for a Reds team determined to give their great captain the send-off he deserves.
Whatever the outcome, Kerevi can be confident that after four years he has left a legacy at the Reds and, hopefully, we will see him back once he has had his overseas experience to make some more great memories.
Cheering on talented gentlemen like Samu Kerevi is one of the great pleasures of following a rugby team and we will look forward to doing so a lot more, whether he is wearing red or gold.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
PS Looking forward to that 2020 season ...
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Thanks Rhys! What a dumb dumb I um :-) Just missing the world cup, that's all!!! Cheers KP
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
They have a different arrangement this year because of the World Cup, the 2019 season you mention and a 2020 season from January to May.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He still was not an automatic selection when he signed the contract with Suntory...
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Have just looked at Japan Top League competition Appear to be just 5 rounds, followed by semis and final - mid June to early August Plus a few preseason weeks commencing mid May - am I missing something? KP
riddler
Roar Rookie
great piece rhys! very well done. i for one was never a big fan of samu this season that has changed completely. what a season it may have been if jordan p hadn't of been injured, him and samu together in the centres would have been back to the helmut/herb days i reckon. as i have said before good luck to him and his family. i don't begrudge anyone making a living, especially as a player in a profesional sport like rugby, where you are literally one tackle or foot placement away from your career being terminated. also i don't blame the ra either on this one. they gave the best they could and if rumours are true and he signed before the start of the season then so be it. i read he was offered 800k a year before the revised offer so he wasn't being taken advantage of as some hyperbole anti-nsw/ra experts were typing on here. good luck to him and hope he comes back refreshed and raring to go in 2023!!
Lee Byron
Roar Rookie
Well written. Thank you for sharing.
Harty
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Rhys. I've also enjoyed watching Samu Kerevi develop his game and hope he returns. However given our singular focus on him for our attack this year, I'm feeling pretty pessimistic about 2020. Under Thorn we remain one of the most one dimensional teams in the comp. Throwing it to Samu and hoping he busts a tackle is similar to U7's and giving it to the fast kid...
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Pretty frustrating for reds fans and a shame we didn't get to see him form a combo with JP .
Dwards
Roar Rookie
Samu is mine and my girl's favourite wallaby atm. Last year's Ireland test my daughter's team ran on at the start. At the end of the game the wallabies were all supposed to come down and sign autographs. Samu was the only guy who came and he stayed for probably half an hour signing every kids autograph. Absolute gentleman. Wonderful rugby player. Genuine loss. I wish him all the best.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Mate, they sat back and watched him packing his bags and then, when he committed they come in with another offer, far too late. They also failed to understand that they were dealing with a man of honor, something foreign to them.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Why haven't RA stepped up and tried to keep him in Australia . He's probably the only back in Australia that if fit is an automatic selection for the wallabies. Surely they could have found some 3rd party deals to top up his wage.
Derick
Guest
Sorry, I'm a bit slow but I think I've just figured out RA's long-term strategy. As the money gets tighter, with a TEN PERSON Board, Cheika and a few assistants they have enough for a team and don't need actual rugby players anymore! I'm sure they could sell the TV rights to their Board meetings for a tidy sum to keep the gravy train chugging along?
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your service Samu, go out a winner tonight.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Good article Rhys . It was obvious very early on that this bloke was going to be very special and I understand that the $ can only go so far but gee whiz we should have recognized and understood that an early 20s back who was showing enough that he was gunna be a superstar was worthy of a punt. Samu has a great family support network around him but in turn he helps support them and the $ has to play a significant part in his decisions. RA have blown this bigtime.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Rhys Samu’s post match interviews always very watchable. Nobody irreplaceable, but… ???? Cheers KP
Bleedsgreenand gold
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Rhys. Sad to see him go. The REDS were starting to look good and next year.....oh well. I hope he goes out with a bang with a huge upset win over the Brumbies. From what I have seen of him in the media he is a humble person and I hope his 3 years in Japan go well for him. You'll always be welcome back, Samu
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Think the Ponies will be all over Samu, especially TK. Gotta hit him before he gets a roll on. Take Samu out, bash him, put him under pressure and you largely negate the Reds only real attacking weapon. The forwards battle will be great. Brumbies by 20.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Great article, Rhys. Thank you. I'm really looking forward to seeing Samu play tonight in Canberra, although am deeply fearful that he might terrorise the Brumbies in his last game.
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks Rhys, great player. Have enjoyed watching him play, shame he is leaving but hope he does return. All the best Samu.