The Blues have fuelled one of the most anticipated storylines of 2022 by confirming Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be unleashed in the midfield next year.
Tuivasa-Sheck's transition from the Warriors to rugby union was supposed to assume a gradual theme after he was granted an early NRL release to return homefrom Australia and join the Auckland NPC team three months ago.
Covid shutting down Auckland's season curtailed those plans, however, and the 28-year-old is now preparing to make the sizeable leap straight into Super Rugby Pacific's inaugural season.
In the form of Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli, former All Blacks lock Luke Romano and promising German-born Tasman openside Anton Segner, the Blues possess other notable recruits but Tuivasa-Sheck's pre-season debut is sure to garner most attention.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald, speaking after the New Zealand Super Rugby squads were publicised on Monday, did nothing to damper hype as he confirmed Tuivasa-Sheck is eying the 12 and 13 jerseys next season.
Longer-term, the expectation is he will attempt to settle into the second five-eighth role vacated by TJ Faiane's departure, with All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane commanding the start there.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's Auckland NPC debut was spoiled by Covid-19. Photo / Photosport
Midfield remains a problematic area for the All Blacks, leaving the door ajar for Tuivasa-Sheck to force his way into contention in his debut season.
"The big picture plan was to start him in the outsides with Auckland and progress him into the midfield for us. We've missed that opportunity through Covid but the outside backs were easy for him and we feel he's probably ticked that box," MacDonald said. "He wants to play in the midfield, he's made no secret of that.
"In his mind he's definitely going to be ready to go round one. It's about trying to pull him back rather than push him forward. He's pretty determined and excited. You speak to any of the players and coaches we're a little bit blown away by how quickly he's taken to the game - it's like he never left.
"His detail and preparation are really impressive. His skill set is right up there. We thought it might take him a little while to get him to understand our skills with the catch, pass, kick compared to league but Roger is a real pro.
"He's going to put his hand up and try push for that starting spot game one."
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald after their win in the Super Rugby Transtasman final. Photo / Photosport
After failing to reach the Super Rugby Aotearoa final the Blues captured the transtasman title last year to break their 18-year silverware drought. MacDonald, though, is quick to add a healthy dose of perspective to that achievement as he sets out the stool for 2022.
"We start from scratch. Hopefully we're still really hungry. I expect we will be. We've had a taste of success and hopefully that makes us want more and that means we're going to have to push harder. If we think we've made it then we're in trouble.
"We still haven't won a title with all the teams in it. That's the key. We want to go through from start to finish and win it. That's the goal. We're clear last year's title was only half the season. We want to win that full season title.
"It starts with how hard you're prepared to work and what you're prepared to give up and who wants it the most. Those are the sorts of messages we'll be driving."
Lock was the area of most concern for the Blues. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu will use his sabbatical clause to skip next year's campaign and play for Toyota Verblitz in Japan. The Blues are yet to appoint a replacement skipper but Tom Robinson stepped into the breach lasts season.
This season's player of the year, fellow lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, has also departed offshore. Romano is a handy addition after savouring a rebirth as the form lock of the NPC with Canterbury, and the Blues have also added former NZ under-20s and Brumbies second-rower James Tucker, who performed strongly for NPC champions Waikato.
Other departures include halfback Jonathan Ruru and first-five Otere Black but with Finlay Christie impressing with the All Blacks, Beauden Barrett returning from Japan and MacDonald confirming he is available for the full season, the Blues appear well placed to challenge for the fully fledged title.
"Players like Luke Romano are like hen's teeth – the 30-year-old guys who have played lots of rugby they're just not around anymore. You can't have a team full of young bucks. There's so much going on and it's so cut-throat you need that balance of experience and youth. Being able to secure Luke was a real bonus for us."
