Blog

By Lee Stace

LIVID, SHOCKED, outraged.

I bet that’s how many Hurricanes fans are feeling right now after it was revealed that Ma’a Nonu will not be offered a contract by the Wellington-based franchise for next season.

Apparently it was his ill-discipline on the field and attitude at training that has cost him a Super Rugby gig with the 'Canes in 2012.

The discipline thing seems a tad unfair, if you ask me.

The 29-year-old is hardly a thug. Sure, Nonu has been guilty of being a bit reckless at times, but he is not one who actively seeks trouble on the field.

As for his attitude, coach Mark Hammett believes Nonu and fellow teammates Cory Jane and Piri Weepu are a bad influence on the younger players in the squad.

Those three might like to clown around and have the occasional laugh, but it’s just the type of people they are. Perhaps Hammett needs to take a chill pill, lighten up a bit and remember banter is good for team moral.

You also have to remember all three have been All Blacks and good ones at that, too. If there were any issues or concerns about their behaviour in the national team, then the media would’ve heard about it via the rumour mill. Trust me on this one.

No doubt there will be an angry lynch mob of diehard Hurricanes’ fans baying for the blood of Hammett and chief executive James Te Puni at the moment.

I can understand the reasoning behind Andrew Hore’s dismissal, but how the ‘Canes can easily disregard someone of Nonu’s game-breaking ability, class and experience due to the fact he receives the odd yellow card and cracks the occasional joke is beyond me.

It seems certain the Chiefs will be the big benefactors from this poor decision.

What do you think? Have the Hurricanes made a huge mistake by giving Ma'a Nonu the flick for 2012?

Posted Comments

Valjean

16-09-2011
03:59:54

You've got it in one. Couldn't have put it beettr.

AFoy

12-06-2011
23:17:55

IT seems like the Crusader has come to the Hurricanes a team with exciting attacking flair and tried to build another Crusaders dynasty. That ain't gonna happen. The Hurricanes fishheads are digging themselves a big hole. So Dave Hewett for Blues coach next year to continue the trend?

Celste

10-06-2011
15:20:51

Iam TOTALLY PI**ED at the dumping of these two game players for both the canes . They are two very important players and as a fan of the Canes Hammett you and Te Puni have got it wrong. Rugby is what they get paid for but who said your not suppose to enjoy work. Bad influence these are game makers that your talking about and bloody good at what they do. Yes not always perfect but neither were you .Maybe you just haven't earn't the respect of your players and the way your going you never will.

Michael Romanos

10-06-2011
10:30:37

Reinstate Ma'a Nonu and Hore for 2012 and get rid of Hammett, his back coach and the CEO, Te Puni. I don''t intend to go and see rugby matches at Westpac Stadiim next year if they can deny me the appearance of real star players such as Nonu and create player dissatisfaction.

soozmate

10-06-2011
09:22:35

Letting nonu and hore go is tunnel vision.. in the broader scheme of things you cannot develop young talent without experienced leaders around. As for nonu, jane, and weepu being bad influences I beg to differ - these three went through school, development, and provincial rugby in the hurricanes region and have remained loyal despite the offer of better oportunities = that's the kind of players you want in a team ones that aren't playing just for the money, unfortunately it's now being thrown in their face. Shame on the WRFU.

Pamela

09-06-2011
21:38:00

Ma,a Nonu and Andrew Hore should have stayed another season if they could have worked it out Has Mark Harmmett got passion for the Canes? Its been not the best season I hope it turn around next year and we are back to a fun wining team.

Mark Greene

09-06-2011
20:56:54

Nothing is more inevitable in the corporate world than change. If you cant change or adapt you are left behind. As a Hurricanes supporter it is difficult to see these guys leave, but have they haven't given us a title. Current coach and board have made a decision - well done. They will be measured by onfield performance. They better get it right!!!!

Judi

09-06-2011
20:45:46

NZ Rugby is tough. These guys put in a lot for rugby. Sure there would be issues but they are both crack players and who ever signs them will be lucky. I personally love Nonu, he always gives 110 per cent in any game. He has a good attitude, move on. Cheers

Ginna

09-06-2011
20:14:43

They'll regret it; Hammett is an inexperienced coach and the CEO has just been there for eight weeks.That's a rash decision for two new boys to dump two stars and all black leaders from your team. Obviously Hammett could not get them on his side and could not manage them like an experienced coach would. The team will be the losers in this as Dane Cole and Jarred Hayward are not a shadow of the quality players as Hoare and Nonu.

Dougal

09-06-2011
18:38:50

The 'Canes administration showed a bit more guts in supporting their coach than Chief Executive, Andrew Fagen and the Brumbies board!

Dave Mitchell

09-06-2011
18:24:12

Anyone with tunnel vision will condem Hammett. Look at the players, undisciplined and showed no sign of changing. Why did the previous Coach leave? Not a real loss to NZ rugby as we have much smarter and younger players waiting in the wings. A lot of their supporters need to get a life and move on like the previous COACH who obviously saw the light at the end of the Tunnel.

jay

09-06-2011
16:37:20

Of course what can you say,gosh he's given his all to the Canes and Wellington then we have someone who comes from down South and then everything goes haywire.What has happened really and truly?It's a big big loss,this man is incredible sh*t we all have our days off.Like the saying goes what the head is doing the tail naturally follows WANT EXPLANATIONS PLEASE..............................

Jo Gray

09-06-2011
15:48:34

Poor judgement in my opinion. Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore are grown men, not silly little boys who don't know any better. It is part of their personality, who they are, the way they play rugby, train and live their lives. Mark Hamment and co. may rue the day they made such a harsh decision. But in saying all that we are not party to what goes on behind closed doors.

BRIAN SMITH

09-06-2011
14:54:28

The way the Hurricans have played this year I think it would be much better if they got rid of Hammett I dont think they have ever been this low in super rugby and I blame the ******* coach

Brian McErlane

09-06-2011
14:54:21

Just plain stupid. You have to be able to manage all sorts of personalities when you are in charge. In earlier years, I had some torrid times with some of the young blokes in Hawke's Bay teams, but we never gave them the boot. Hammett will be hammered in the end!!!

Stephen Yetman

08-06-2011
21:17:57

As a Wellington season ticket holder, I'm very disappointed that a star who has given nine seasons to the Hurricanes is no longer wanted by an inexperienced coach and Chief Executive. Well, Hammett will get a team he can discipline but they may not have any stars in it. And those that live by the sword die by the sword. So I wouldn't be surprised if Hammett doesn't last much longer at the Hurricanes. Pity he couldn't learn from Henry and co, they got the best out of Nonu.

Ngapuhi

08-06-2011
19:39:27

As a hurricane supporter I too am dismayed by the decision to dump Nonu who has proved to be the main attacking weapon in their backline.I can only surmise there has to be some other reason for this and I hope Hammett does not regret this decision.Best of luck Ma'a you have been a loyal cane and we hate to see you go.I still think the ABs will not make the same error!

We at rugbynews.co.nz and Media Titles Group Limited like to keep our readers up to date with the latest news, offers from our sites and information from our partners. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will not pass your details on to any company outside of our network.

We at Media Titles Group Limited invite our readers (you) to post comments on the blogs on our website. Please read our terms and conditions below.

Please note the views which are expressed in the comment areas are not our views, nor the views of any of our staff. We accept no liability in respect to any material posted in the comments areas and are not responsible for the content and accuracy of that material.

If you place reliance on material posted in the comments area, you do so at your own risk, and you indemnify us from any liabilities, claims, costs, loss (including consequential loss) or damage suffered or caused by doing so.

If you comment on our blogs, the following terms and conditions apply.

Our rights

We retain the right (but not the obligation) to edit, delete, reject or remove any comment which you post or want to post in our blog areas.

You grant us non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide licence to republish any material you submit to us, without limitation, in any format.

We retain the right to terminate your ability to comment on our blogs if we believe you are abusing the service in any way, or have breached these terms and conditions.

You consent to our collecting and storing your email and IP address for security purposes and you will also receive a complementary subscription to RugbyEnews.

Your obligations

You will not be able to post the following comments on our blogs:

(a) Anything which is not an original work or infringes upon the copyright, registered trademark or intellectual property rights of another person;

(b) Anything which is or could be deemed to be obscene, offensive, pornographic, vulgar, profane, indecent or otherwise illegal;

(d) Anything which racially or religiously vilifies, incites violence or hatred, or is likely to offend, insult or humiliate others based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or any physical or mental disability;

(e) Anything which you know or suspect is false, misleading or deceptive.

(f) Anything which advertises or promotes goods, services and products in a commercial manner; or

(g) Anything which provides financial advice or advice of any kind to any financial product.

Indemnities

You agree to fully indemnify and hold us harmless against any liabilities, claims, costs, loss (including consequential loss) or damage incurred as a result of any comments you post in our blog area, or as a result of any breach by you of these terms and conditions.

Notwithstanding any indemnity provided by you under these terms and conditions, we retain the right to assume the conduct of any defence to a claim brought against us and of any proceedings or appeal issued by us, and you agree to provide all reasonable cooperation (including making relevant documents available) that we may require from you in relation to any such claim, proceeding or appeal.

These terms and conditions shall be construed and applied in accordance with the laws of New Zealand, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts to determine any matter or dispute which arises under these terms and conditions in accordance with the laws of New Zealand.