Just as Otere Black settles into the driver's seat to play an increasingly influential role in guiding the Blues through their resurgent transtasman campaign he could soon be moving on.
Beauden Barrett's imminent return, and the quest to look after his young family, could force Black to depart the Bluesafter this season.
There's a sense of irony in that.
The Blues have long sought a playmaker to fill their No 10 void. Black arrived in Auckland three years ago, with Stephen Perofeta, Bryn Gatland and Daniel Kirkpatrick in the mix, and eventually emerged as the preferred pivot.
Black didn't play his first season at the Blues after rupturing his ACL, but started the majority of last season with Barrett largely featuring at fullback.
With Barrett enjoying his six-month Japanese sabbatical this season, Black has again been entrusted to guide the Blues.
While the Blues disappointed through the Aotearoa competition, Black is helping push the perennial underachievers towards their first Super Rugby final since 2003, should they defeat the Reds in Brisbane on Friday night.
Blues 1st-five Otere Black during the Super Rugby Aotearoa rugby match between the Blues and the Hurricanes. Photo / Brett Phibbs.
For now that's his focus, but with Barrett targeting the Blues No 10 jersey next season, Black has a big decision to make around his future at the end of this season.
"To be honest I'm going through that at the moment," Black told the Herald before the Blues departed for Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon. "I'm looking at options and we'll see what happens over the next month.
"I'm pretty open to what's out there, but at the moment I'm solely focused on the next three weeks.
"All options will be something I'll look at but I've left that to my management. I've told them I've got a couple of crucial weeks ahead of us and I don't want to have that stuff pondering in the background."
Black and his partner recently welcomed eight-month-old daughter Areta. Providing for them is now the 26-year-old's top priority.
"I've got a young family to look after so a lot of the decisions I make now it's not about me, it's about my family. That's the way I've gone about it. My daughter's arrival made me think about looking after my family and whatever it takes, I'll do it. Whether that's domestically or offshore, my big why in turning up to training and trying to perform well is making sure my family is well looked after. That will be a big part of my decision."
Otere Black leaps the advertising boards at the end of the match. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
Last week against the Brumbies the man dubbed the 'wizard' by team-mates notched 100 points for the season - he sits third in the transtasman competition behind Richie Mo'unga and Jordie Barrett.
Black's passing game has come to the fore in recent weeks, too, with skip balls laying on tries for outside backs and one classy tip-on sending Bryce Heem over against the Brumbies.
Black has always gone about his business with minimal fuss. More often than not he nonchalantly nails clutch kicks and attempts to create space for others but earns few accolades compared to other Kiwi playmakers. Yet he remains a popular member of the Blues.
An experienced, calm head not only for the Blues but adopted province Bay of Plenty and New Zealand Maori, the Palmerston North-raised Black, a Super Rugby champion with the Hurricanes, would be a big loss for New Zealand rugby in a position not flush with depth should he opt to head offshore later this year.
"I got some decent minutes last year and that built my confidence coming into this year. The boys and coaching staff have given me the ability to run the team and I've taken that on board and I'm trying to take more responsibility to look after the team on the field and be a little bit more dominant around little things like meetings.
"Learning from guys like Beauden and Dan Carter last year set me up well for this year in terms of those aspects. I'm reasonably happy with where I'm at and looking forward to the challenge of one of the better Aussie teams this week. We've started this competition well but Friday night will be the true test of where we want to get to."
Once this Transtasman campaign is complete and a decision on his future made, Black is expected to savour potentially one of his last appearances for New Zealand Maori in their scheduled match against Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium on July 3.
"If I'm healthy I'm definitely keen. One of my massive goals each year is to put on the Maori jersey and represent my people and my family. It's always a big drive for me. I've been involved in a few campaigns and I really love it. A lot of the boys come into camp not quite familiar with their Maori side and walk out of that environment wanting to know more which is cool."
