Steamers: Delany leaves door ajar

Mike Delany mightn't be lost to Bay of Plenty rugby for long, hinting at the weekend he's keen to explore a future role with the Steamers - possibly even as a player.
Delany is packed up in anticipation of his move next week to Japan, having signed with club side Panasonic Wild Knights.
At a farewell function at his Mount Maunganui club on Saturday night the 29-year-old gave the club his All Black jersey from his solitary test against Italy in 2009.
Bay of Plenty Steamers captain Colin Bourke was also in a giving mood, presenting Mount Sports with his New Zealand Maori and UK Barbarians jerseys from last year. Delany wrestled with the decision to head offshore for much of summer but said a disjointed Super 15 season with the Chiefs had solidified the move.
"I'm comfortable with the call I've made and keener than ever to go considering I didn't have the greatest year with the Chiefs.
"From not getting much of a chance there it'll be good just to get away.
"I'm motivated to play some footie and do something new."
The hardest aspect of going was bowing out at Bay of Plenty, although Delany, who has played six seasons for the Steamers, winning 61 caps and scoring 489 points, has been assured he'll get to watch the team's progress in the ITM Cup in Japan.
"I don't leave with any regrets but in an ideal world would have stayed in New Zealand to finish my career.
"If I stay in good nick then who knows, I may still be able to finish up back here or definitely serve some role for Bay of Plenty if they'll have me in the future."
Delany's been over to Panasonic's base in Ota City several times familiarising himself with the new club and allaying any lingering uncertainty after the Japanese quake and ensuing tsunami. "I've been to Tokyo and didn't notice anything had happened.
"The nuclear thing was still something to think about but I've been assured there's nothing for me to worry about so I'll take them at that."
Delany's final season with the Chiefs after debuting in 2008 was typically discombobulated as coach Ian Foster toyed with the Bay pivot before finally chucking his lot in with Stephen Donald for the contentious first-five role - with predictably flighty results as the Chiefs slumped to last in the New Zealand conference.
Delany's clearly had enough of being mucked around and resorted to playing club rugby for the Mount late in the campaign to maintain his fitness.
"I would loved to have played a full season with the Chiefs and it would have been good to build on a season week in, week out but that wasn't the case.
"It seemed I was in one week then out the next and all in all it was a pretty frustrating time, confirming my decision to head offshore was the right one.
"It plays on your mind not getting consistent game time."
Although he's the only big-name Kiwi on the playing roster at Panasonic (former All Black Tony Brown is assistant coach), Delany won't have far to go to find a familiar face, with former Steamer Brett Mather based just out of Tokyo and Chiefs Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeney, Hayden Triggs and Isaac Ross also nearby.