It cost a few senior players and All Blacks like Andrew Hore, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu their positions but, when you look at how they fared afterwards, the franchise has probably grown without them. Those players haven't exactly performed elsewhere in Super Rugby.
Nonu's the only one who could potentially come back and it's up to the new coaches whether they can handle him if he leaves the Blues. In hindsight, you can see what Hammett was up against but he stayed staunch and tried to push the franchise forward. That's why I admire him. He stuck to his guns.
Hammett's developed a few good players under his watch. Dane Coles is a fine example. Others include Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara. There are a few potential stars coming through, too, like Blade Thomson and Ardie Savea.
Now the onus goes on head coach Chris Boyd and assistant John Plumtree.
Plumtree could probably argue he knows what he's doing, having coached the Sharks before getting ditched by his former skipper John Smit.
Boyd has done well with Wellington in the ITM Cup but has just coached arguably the worst performing under-20 side this country has produced in the last decade.
It won't be an easy ride but they could do worse than nurturing the talent Hammett has given them.
