Waisake Naholo to decide between Highlanders and Chiefs

Waisake Naholo. Photo / Photosport

Waisake Naholo is weighing a potential move from the Highlanders to the Chiefs.

Off contract with New Zealand Rugby at the end of this season, the demand for Naholo's services comes as no surprise.

This year alone the All Blacks wing has scored eight tries and laid on three others from nine games for the Highlanders. He is also averaging 85 metres, 4.7 defenders beaten and more than two clean breaks per outing. Such potency was further highlighted in the Highlanders' victory over the Lions, where he frequently terrorised Scottish opposite Tommy Seymour.

After being discarded by the Blues, Naholo has thrived in Dunedin; his home since 2015. Injuries have held him back at times but this year in particular Naholo has produced consistent form that culminated in him being preferred on the left wing ahead of Julian Savea for the second Lions test in Wellington.

The crux of Naholo's decision encompasses footy and family. His partner lives in Cambridge and his two brothers Kiniviliame, 18, and Meli, 20, are close by in Hastings and New Plymouth respectively.

"I'd like to stay in New Zealand for at least one more year and go from there," Naholo told the Herald.

"If I come up to the Chiefs I'll be closer to them and being close to family is important for my rugby career. It helps a lot with many things, but all this time I've been by myself so I don't mind.

"I'm weighing things up at the moment and will hopefully come up with a decision in a few more weeks and see where I go from there.

"I love playing for the 'Landers and the environment with the boys down there makes me enjoy my rugby."

Kiniviliame recently scored six tries in one half for Hastings' Boys High School against Wellington's St Patrick Town.

"He keeps hogging all the tries. He needs some passing training. It's good to see him scoring tries as a winger. I get excited and a bit jealous."

The Chiefs approach is believed to have come from Colin Cooper who will take over from Dave Rennie next year. Cooper and Naholo's relationship dates back to 2011 when he first moved from Wanganui.

With James Lowe's imminent exit to Leinster leaving one opening, Cooper is also thought to be chasing former Chiefs turned Crusaders utility Seta Tamanivalu, another with strong Taranaki links.

"Coops has been my coach since I left school and first went to the 'Naki," Naholo said. "He's a great coach and he's a nice man as well."

With Tony Brown (Japan) and Scott McLeod (All Blacks defence) departing at the end of this season, uncertainty around the Highlanders head coach role may play a part. Aaron Mauger, signed as an assistant, is the favourite to take the reins in 2018.

"At the end of the day it's about where I'll play my best rugby and the 'Landers have contributed a lot and helped me get to where I am today. It's going to be hard making this decision."

Naholo expects to return for Friday's match against the Reds in Dunedin. He missed last Saturday's final drawn Lions test at Eden Park after being knocked out by taking heavy contact to the head from Sean O'Brien in Wellington. The Irish flanker was cited but escaped sanction, though no explanation was given why.

"I must've been out for one or two seconds. The doctors said I was clearly out so they kept me off. It was my first time getting knocked out," Naholo said.

"I thought it was unintentional. It was one of those moments where I had my head in the wrong place at the wrong time. People get away with a lot of things so I suppose that was just one of them.

"Contact with the head even if it's not intentional people still get cited and stood-down. That all comes down to the judiciary people.

"I should be alright and everything is looking good.

"I've been trying to be consistent and take every opportunity. I want to give it everything before something happens again because you never know when you're going to get injured."