Rugby: Hunt for perfect 10 again

Michael Harris, the much-improved Northcote and Harbour No 10, could be omitted. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Blues are understood to be wooing a new first five-eighths - exciting Taranaki youngster Beauden Barrett.

Barrett has performed well for Taranaki this year and has also been a New Zealand sevens representative.

But, if the recruitment deal is wrapped up soon, his arrival could preface yet more Auckland-North Harbour frostiness, with many over the bridge angered that Michael Harris, the much-improved Northcote and Harbour No 10, could be omitted.

North Harbour co-coach Craig Dowd says Queensland are interested in Harris and that he might be yet another young New Zealand player tempted overseas - but the Blues had not yet decided which way to jump in selecting a back-up to leading first five Stephen Brett.

The No 10 jersey has been a vexed one for the Blues in recent seasons. For various reasons, the franchise has struggled to produce a homegrown first five-eighths, resorting instead to imports like Brett, who plays his provincial rugby for Canterbury.

The Blues' interest in first five-eighths has ranged far and wide with players like Jonny Wilkinson, Aaron Cruden, Juan Martin Hernandez, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Gopperth, Michael Hobbs, Tasesa Lavea and Daniel Kirkpatrick either all wooed (unsuccessfully) or tried (and moved on). Of that list, only Lavea is homegrown and current Auckland No 10 Matt Berquist has signed with the Crusaders where he will be back-up to Carter.

All of which increases the North Harbour frustration the Blues might be looking at players other than Harris.

"I spoke to Pat [Lam, the Blues coach] last week and he was more encouraging and more receptive about Mike than in the past. He said he was doing pretty well and that the next couple of games would be important for him."

However, Dowd said Harris had been Barrett's age when he was first selected in the Blues squad - and had maybe suffered from perceptions gained at that time.

"They found a lot wrong with him, I know, but Harry [Harris] has been away and worked on his game and has fixed all that. Ask anyone - he has come on in leaps and bounds and is a considerable player now.

"They said he couldn't defend - not that he couldn't tackle or anything but that he got into the wrong positions. But I would say there is not a better defensive 10 in the ITM Cup right now."

Brett will remain Lam's premier first five next season and either Harris or Barrett - son of well-known former Taranaki loose forward Kevin "Smiley" Barrett - will only have back-up duties.

Harris has come on well in the past two seasons and particularly this year - building up his game direction skills, his kicking from hand and particularly his goalkicking, with a high-percentage success rate (in spite of his last-minute conversion miss against Counties-Manukau in a key ITM Cup match recently).

Earlier this year, All Black coach Graham Henry bemoaned the absence of "middle management" as players below All Black status were snapped up by overseas clubs; the inference being New Zealand rugby was losing too many players who might graduate to higher honours, given time and experience.

Harris is perhaps still too much of a tyro to be spoken of at that level but there is no doubt that he has played well this year in a struggling Harbour team. If he goes to Queensland, New Zealand will lose a player in a position which is not exactly brimming with talent and depth below Daniel Carter.

Also, the Blues' existence has often been pockmarked by dissatisfaction from Harbour that (a) their players do not get selected in Blues squads in numbers commensurate with ability and (b) even if selected, they often warm the bench.

They are old complaints but nonetheless heartfelt. To have the Blues seeking yet another first five-eighths from outside their borders rankles when the feeling is, from many, that an adequate back-up exists.

Blues coach Pat Lam would not comment, saying he preferred to work behind the scenes and would not discuss any candidates for the squad until the official announcement next month.