Super champions' coach reveals he needs another lock as Graham departs for Exeter.
Champion Chiefs Super rugby coach Dave Rennie is reluctant to talk about dynasties, but with two titles in the bag and planning already on track for next season, he is going the right way about building one.
He joined a semi-official function at the team's Ruakura base yesterday and willbreak for the team's victory parade in Hamilton today, but there is no way he is clocking off yet. He has plenty of reports to write and meetings with players, apart from tidying up other loose ends.
He also has to find two locks. Rennie revealed Romana Graham is joining co-captain Craig Clarke overseas; in Graham's case the Exeter Chiefs in Britain.
"We've got a fair bit of work to do initially," Rennie said. "We've got to get reports done and reviews. It's the best time to find out what we can do better and what worked well and what we want to keep doing."
Rennie and Wayne Smith are such sticklers for detail that it is rumoured they were reviewing some of the video clips of their team's 27-22 final victory over the Brumbies at Waikato Stadium even as they were celebrating on Saturday night. It is, therefore, no surprise that they are already looking ahead to emulating the Crusaders and making it three championships in a row.
"We'll catch up with all the players this week and there's a lot of planning to do. And of course the NPC starts."
The ITM Cup begins on August 15 with a match between Counties and Wellington at Pukekohe and it could provide a valuable resource for the Chiefs coaches.
Rennie said he would hold out for Sonny Bill Williams for as long as possible, but if the former All Black decided to stay with the Roosters in the NRL he would have to add a midfielder to his list.
He said he had "25 or 26" players signed out of a squad of 32 for next year.
As for time off, Rennie said he had a fortnight's holiday in the United States planned with wife Stephanie, but work won't be far away. "I've got a couple of contacts over there. I plan to go to one of the NFL outfits and one of the baseball outfits."
