Gregor Paul: Lock becoming key position for decimated Chiefs

The bad news keeps coming for the Chiefs, with Bay of Plenty lock Bernie Upton signalling he might return to Wellington next year.

If the 24-year-old does, therefore become eligible for the Hurricanes, it will leave the Chiefs with a locking crisis as Sean Hohneck has signed with Bristol and Jono Gibbes is mulling a deal to play for the Ospreys in Wales.

That would leave Kristian Ormsby as the only lock still available from this year's squad. Former All Black Keith Robinson is progressing well from a serious back injury and remains an outside bet to play Super 14 next season. But, even if Robinson does rehabilitate, the Chiefs will still be in the market for new blood to shore up their scrum and lineout.

They will also need cover at prop for Deacon Manu who is joining Llanelli, in the midfield for Mark Ranby who is off to Japan and probably also for David Hill, who is likely to join Bristol.

If Gibbes heads overseas the Chiefs will need a skipper as well.

The loss of so much talent and experience in one hit is a serious blow for the franchise and has thrown up questions about Waikato's contracting strategy and wage structure. Since Ian Foster took over as head coach in 2004, there have been no rumblings of discontent and the character of the team has been apparent. They have been defensively cohesive and this year the Chiefs dug out gutsy wins, even when their playoff hopes had been dashed.

Some of those leaving fit the profile of the typical overseas departee. Manu is out of favour and stagnating, Hohneck isn't guaranteed selection, while Ranby is at the end of a solid career and looking to prolong his earning power. But Hill and Gibbes are still in their prime, with the former providing tactical direction and the latter inspirational leadership. The Chiefs don't want to lose either and it could be considered remiss that Hill and Gibbes as well as Ranby, Manu and Hohneck have all come off contract at the same time.

Unions try to ensure senior players come off contract at staggered intervals but chief executive Gary Dawson says that is not always possible.

"You obviously don't want all your players coming off contract at the end of the same year, but you often don't have a lot of control because they have contracts with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

"I think the statistics show most franchises have a 25 per cent turnover every year, so this is part of the normal process. We are sad Deacon and Sean are leaving but we can understand why, as we can with Mark Ranby. We still have a strong squad and when people leave it opens up opportunities for others."

There is no disputing the turnover figures Dawson quotes but they are reached through a combination of players retiring, some not being selected, and a smaller group who leave when they are still wanted.

In recent years, Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury unions have lost few players they were keen to keep. As a consequence, perhaps, their respective wage bills are all understood to have been close to or above the salary cap. Waikato, though, are under the cap - sources estimate they have paid $1.8m on wages - which could hint they are not remunerating players at the same level as other big provinces.

Dawson refutes that line of thinking. "I think we are paying market rates. There is no limit to how many players you can contract so we have a squad we think will meet our needs. We are comfortable with the level we have paid in relation to the cap but there is not a lot of headroom."

That proximity to the cap is partly why Dawson's preference is to fill gaps from within the franchise. Bay of Plenty's Mark Sorenson would probably be the best placed of internal candidates to fill one of the locking berths. Richard Kahui impressed this season after being drafted to the Highlanders and seems a ready replacement for Ranby. Bay of Plenty's Murray Williams is a solid first five but lacks Hill's experience.

That appears to be the problem for the Chiefs - the quality and leadership of players they are losing and potentially losing is not matched by those poised to come through from within the region. That is a worry for Dawson and Foster, but a great opportunity for aspiring players within the region.

Counties-Manukau coach Kevin Putt says. "There are opportunities at the Chiefs and we have to make sure our guys do their talking on the field rather than before the season has started. Our guys have a passion for Counties but to be a professional, the only way to do that is to be contracted with the NZRU and a Super 14 rugby franchise."