KEY POINTS:
Trophies seem to follow Paul Whatuira around like lost puppies.
In 2003 the Kiwis and Wests Tigers centre was an integral part of the Panthers side that coasted to the minor premiership before comfortably seeing off the Roosters in the grand final. Not only did the Panthers do
it with ease, they did it in style, demolishing opponents with flair as the likes of Preston Campbell and Rhys Wesser ran amok.
Two years later it was a bit different, as Whatuira's Tigers came out of the pack and timed their run to grand final glory perfectly. The brand of football was similar. Benji Marshall and Scott Prince were irrepressible in the halves, the finishing out wide was electric. Whatuira, as ever, was a steadying presence, a rock of a centre who seldom, if ever, puts a foot wrong.
To round out his season, Whatuira was on hand to pounce on a loose ball for the opening try in the Kiwis' historic 24-0 victory over Australia in the Tri-Nations final in Leeds.
That Whatuira was on the park at all was a tribute to his understated and seemingly oft-undervalued ability.
Clinton Toopi seemed a certainty for one of the centre berths, as did Bradford's Shontayne Hape.
Instead, McClennan sprung a major shock, naming Whatuira in the centres and shifting Hape to loose forward in what proved a decisive tactical gambit. McClennan simply wasn't prepared to leave Whatuira out.
His career hasn't always been like that. An unsuccessful debut NRL season at the Warriors was followed by an equally fruitless year at Melbourne Storm.
"I had no luck at all. I was moving different places and couldn't get an opportunity," he said.
"I moved to my third club when I was 20 years old and the patience and the hard work paid off. I just put it down to that. But I do feel lucky. I've been very fortunate to be in two great sides, but it is also about taking the opportunities when they arrive and grabbing them with both hands.
"A lot of it just came down to being hungry and putting in the hard work. But I am fortunate, I know I am. There's a lot of great players who never got the chance to play in a grand final, let alone win one."
Being a good player and a lucky talisman might not be enough to preserve Whatuira's career at the Tigers. His destiny is said to be linked to that of skipper Brett Hodgson, who is also in contract talks with the club. If Hodgson stays, then salary constraints would likely mean Whatuira would find himself surplus to requirements at a fourth NRL club.
If that happens, his favoured next port of call appears to be his home town of Wellington, playing rugby for the Hurricanes and pushing for a spot in the All Blacks.
It's still a bit of a long shot, but the man to finally fill the centre void left by Tana Umaga's retirement might just come from an identical background. Born and bred in Wainuiomata, Whatuira grew up watching Umaga and the likes of the Lomax brothers and Piri Weepu's uncle Billy play for the town's over-achieving league team.
"League was massive in Wainui, especially with the success that they had in the Lion Red Cup in the early nineties. The whole community got behind those guys and they were definitely role models to young guys like myself and Piri.
"Seeing the Lomax brothers and Tana become a success made you believe that you could do it too. Considering Wainuiomata is only a small town, there have been a lot of successful athletes come of out it."
Whatuira's contract negotiations with the NZRU are at an advanced stage.
"I'm going to hear back from the New Zealand Rugby Union in the next week or so. Once I do then we'll go from there. I'm thankful that they are very interested in me. I played union on Sundays as a kid and I definitely follow the All Blacks as much as I can. I'm a big fan of rugby.
"I'd love to go back to Wellington but, in saying that, it depends where the best opportunity is."
Whatuira is also weighing up offers from Australian rugby, Super League and NRL clubs including Canberra. These days, it seems, his services are well and truly in demand.
Paul Whatuira
Age: 25
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 94kg
Junior club: Wainuiomata
NRL clubs: Warriors, Storm, Panthers, Tigers
Premierships: 2003 (Penrith), 2005 (Tigers)
Tests: 10
Honours: 2005 Tri-Nations winner.