Bourke back for Bay after Super 14 nod

Bay of Plenty supporters have known it for years but Colin Bourke finally gets to shed his ``one-season wonder' tag on the national stage.
The supremely talented Steamers No8 broke back into the Super 14 on Friday, making the 28-strong Chiefs squad after a strong season in blue and gold.
His form behind the Bay pack left Chiefs coach Ian Foster no choice but to pick him for the 2009 season, returning Bourke to that level for the first time since turning out for the Highlanders in 2005.
``It's been a long time between drinks _ it's a good feeling and good to be back,' Bourke admitted. ``It's been four years since my last Super 12 game and, last year, I had to sit down and think about where I wanted to go and lay out a few goals. This was the number one goal, although the focus was just to perform for the Bay first and foremost and not look too much past that.'
His selection is likely to keep the 24-year-old in Mount Maunganui for another season as well, with Bourke admitting a lengthy stint overseas was on the cards.
``I was definitely looking overseas if I'd missed out this time. I've been playing here for five seasons now and I decided it was going to be make or break this year. It was all up to me but I decided to go hard.'
It was that attitude shift which impressed Foster, who has been unwilling to take a punt on the goal-kicking, wide-ranging No8 in the past.
``He's had to do the hard yards to get back here and, this year, he's improved his fitness and his skill level and he's become a real leader on the park,' Foster said.
``We've historically been a good attacking team but, historically, we haven't done as well at set-pieces as we would have liked. We've had a bit of flamboyance in our loosies that has become our trademark. That won't change _ we'll still have a very attacking mindset.'
Another player who slots into that attacking mindset is Steamers first-five Mike Delany, who has travelled a long and winding route into the Chiefs for the first time.
After his school days at Rotorua Boys' High, Delany went to university in Hamilton, failing to impress Foster while in the Waikato system.
He then shifted to Mount Maunganui in 2005, engaging in a first-five duel with Murray Williams for three seasons before breaking into this year's Highlanders squad as a draft player.
``There's a big percentage of players who only get one year of Super rugby and are never seen again so it was important that I got picked again,' Delany admitted.
``I'm pretty stoked to be there, especially with my home franchise this time. It's been a bit a bit of a journey but, ever since I started, it's been a goal to make the Chiefs, having grown up here. I'm looking forward to a good year and a decent amount of game time.'
Delany effectively replaces Williams, who left for Japan after this year's Super 14, and is likely to be back-up to All Black Stephen Donald.
He's yet to commit to the Steamers for another season and admits he's waiting to see what Super rugby brings him.
``I'm not getting any younger but I'm pretty happy to be here for the time being,' the 26-year-old said. ``I'm not on contract at the moment but I'm looking to sort that out. If I stay in New Zealand, I'll stay with the Bay and I'll see what happens with the Chiefs season.'
Bourke, meanwhile, joked that he was buying the beers for Steamers front-rowers and fellow Chiefs picks Joe Savage and James McGougan next time they had a social outing, although it's likely to be after another teetotalling rugby season.
His second crack at Super rugby won't cloud the fact his selection owed much to his Steamers forward pack.
``I'm always telling the seven blokes in front of me that without them, my job's so much harder. When they're going forward, it just opens things up for me.
``I've put a lot of my selection down to those guys, some of whom missed out like Red (Culum Retallick) and Solly (Solomon King). They've made me look a lot better than I am at times so it's a huge testament to them.'