Troubled franchise must take deeper look at itself

If he decides to take the job, Tana Umaga has a big task on his hands. Photo / Hagen Hopkins

A new coach at the Blues, then, but will that bring about significant change?

The Hurricanes' turnaround suggests it can, with Chris Boyd and John Plumtree performing what the franchise's supporters probably consider as a miracle in taking the team to the top of the table this season - their first - and a potential home final, after years of under-performance.

The problems at the Blues, however, appear to be deeper and more widespread than what Boyd and Plumtree discovered on their arrival.

If he decides to take the job, and all signs suggest that he is about to, Tana Umaga has a big task on his hands. Not only is he working for a franchise which is deeply divided in terms of its administration, he must significantly turn the attitudes of some of his new players around. In this respect, at least, Umaga could be ideal for the job.

Simply put, there are players at the Blues who are apparently not prepared to put in the work. More specifically, there is a bloc which considers putting in extra work - the hard, physical stuff, but also the analysis and self reflection required for a professional player to go to the next level - as uncool.

That is an attitude which is not only an insult to the franchise and its supporters, but also to the players involved. It is disrespectful to the talent they have and to all those working in factories or other tough jobs who would no doubt treasure the opportunities that these young men have.

It's not an attitude that Umaga will tolerate.

Kirwan's final press conference came in a room adjacent to the one in which Pat Lam said his final farewell to the media.

That was a month short of three years ago.

Before Lam, David Nucifora tried and failed to get his message through.

Next it will be Umaga's turn, probably, and good luck to him. Kirwan showed humility and dignity yesterday in saying that Umaga was a "fantastic" candidate and that he was welcome to call for advice.

The Blues will give him time to prove himself in terms of results, but the franchise must look at itself too. It is divided, and the Auckland faction has come through loud and clear in terms of the impasse at board level over Kirwan's future. It's time for a long-term approach rather than a quick fix.

The potential Umaga announcement will be an exciting one for the Blues and its long-suffering supporters, but for the sake of the former All Blacks captain, and the steps that Kirwan attempted to make during his three years, let's hope it's not another false dawn.