Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett. Photo / Getty Images
It won't be much consolation to the Blues, but Hurricanes-bound Ma'a Nonu believes his time away from Wellington has made him a better person.
Nonu's comments came following the confirmation yesterday by the Hurricanes and Blues of one of rugby's recent worst-kept secrets. Significantly, perhaps, they were preceded by a
thanks to the Blues and coach John Kirwan for "giving me another chance to play Super Rugby". He added his mentor had become a role model. What went unsaid was the fact that the Blues and Kirwan were the only ones willing to take a risk on him.
The 32-year-old, who has refused to speak to the media for the past fortnight or so, said in hindsight being forced out of the Hurricanes in 2011 by Mark Hammett and playing for the Blues, Highlanders and then the Blues again was one of the best things that could have happened to him.
"I could thank him in terms of what happened, really," Nonu said of Hammett. "I could honestly say I was bitter when I left but these things happen and life throws you challenges ... I thought I came through a better person and with new motivations as well. I spent nine years with the Hurricanes and never left Wellington so ... being uncomfortable going to new cities [Auckland and Dunedin] was a way of growing as a person and as a player."
Nonu's activation of an out-clause in his two-year contract after a consistently good season strengthens the Hurricanes' backline significantly and leaves Kirwan in need of another midfielder.
