Delany's earned his earner

The email arrived from South Africa, where Chiefs first-five Mike Delany is preparing to play the Lions in a Super 15 match this weekend.
"Hey mate - would be good to thank the Bay of Plenty union and coaches for all their help, as well as do a big shout-out to my Mount club?"
It was just one last thought from the Bay of Plenty star, anxious to leave on the right note after announcing he was heading to Japan this year.
But it's also a good way to remember Delany, a locally bred All Black whose game was cultured, nurtured and developed on fields not far from here. Bay born - in Rotorua - and undeniably Bay Proud.
The sparky pivot will leave a big void in the Steamers when they start their ITM Cup campaign without him in July but fans can douse their tears with a certain amount of pride.
Like his teammate, Tanerau Latimer, elevation to the ultimate level came from the heartland, unfettered by having to move to bigger unions to make it.
In fact, Delany came through from the opposite direction, shifting back to the Bay from Hamilton in 2005 after being unable to crack any serious teams while at university there.
He arrived as a wafer-thin lightweight with an unerring boot, but proceeded to shatter all sorts of club scoring records, collecting 268 for Mount in that first year.
One of his most memorable games that season was helping a brilliant Bay "B" team smash their Canterbury counterparts 53-24 in Christchurch.
But his instinctive play and small frame meant he had to fight every inch to gain higher honours. It took a long time for him to claim the Steamers' No10 jersey for his own and even longer to break into Super Rugby.
Bay first-fives have been treated horribly by the Super franchises, starting with Andy Miller in 1996 and continuing with Glen Jackson through the early 2000s.
Both should have been All Blacks - and it's to Delany's eternal credit that he fought through the natural bias, building up his body and his game until he pulled on the black jersey in a test against Italy in 2009.
Delany was nervous about revealing plans to head offshore but he needn't have worried. He's earned the right to a lucrative late-career pay cheque in Japan - and he's definitely earned the right to a shout-out or two.