The tryscoring touch was still there but the kicking boots need some polish as Chiefs excitement machine Tim Nanai-Williams made a problem-free return to rugby yesterday in his side's tri-series romp at Rotorua International Stadium.
After being hampered by a groin injury for much of the Chiefs' Super Rugby campaign and sitting out the last seven weeks, Nanai-Williams grabbed the opportunity to play a full 40 minutes in the hitout against the Bay of Plenty Wasps.
The 23-year-old started at fullback against the Wasps before moving into first-five for an injured Robbie Robinson.
After seeing off the Counties Cavaliers 45-0 in their first 40-minute clash, the Chiefs started slowly against a fired-up Wasps before running in several long-range tries in a 43-0 rout of a side made up of Baywide club players.
The Wasps downed the Cavaliers 14-0 in the opening 40-minute game.
Having made his comeback, Nanai-Williams is hoping for a strong finish to the Super Rugby season with the table-topping Chiefs.
"It's been about seven weeks on the rehab trail but it felt pretty good out there tonight. Scoring with pretty much my first touch, my confidence went up right away," he said.
Nanai-Williams has been nursing an acute groin injury, known as osteitis pubis, since late last year, with the injury flaring in early May. Surgery is an option but he is desperate to avoid it and has been working on an intensive programme of rehabilitation with physio Paul Cameron.
"I've been back training fully with the boys for about a week, once the power's come back into my legs, but it's taken a few changes to the way I train for the injury to finally settle," the Counties-Manukau utility said.
He's been limited to just one running session a day, something that hasn't gone down well with his teammates as winter starts to bite in landlocked Hamilton.
"I feel a bit stink because there I am, rugged up on the sideline, standing there watching in my jacket and beanie on, when the teammates are all freezing, throwing me dirty looks. But I've got to do what the physio says because if I don't look after it I'll end up like Ice (Isaia Toeava) and that'll be my season."
One piece of Cameron advice Williams ignored last night was to avoid kicking the ball, with coach Dave Rennie and co nearly having kittens as the fullback lined up a sideline conversion. He had a whack with his left foot - he can kick off either - but the effort wobbled through the night drizzle before curving towards the stand, ensuring it would be his one lash of the night.
With a 10-strong bench, the Chiefs took time to ignite in both 40-minute hitouts, with the Wasps in particular making good inroads through their forwards and providing a test in the set pieces.
But once the mistakes evaporated the Chiefs backs, minus their All Blacks and the injured Richard Kahui, had space to stretch their legs, running in seven tries in both games - the best a crossfield kick from Brendon Leonard against the Wasps that was snapped up by Lelia Masaga.
The Chiefs will remain in Rotorua for a few days and will today attend the tangi of flanker Tanerau Latimer's father at Otamarakau Marae.
Regional tri-series
Game one: Bay of Plenty Wasps 14 Counties Manukau Cavaliers 0.
Game two: Chiefs 45 Cavaliers 0.
Game three: Chiefs 43 Bay of Plenty Wasps 0.