How Beauden Barrett signing for the Blues could impact not just the Hurricanes, but the entire New Zealand conference
Speculation might be rife about Beauden Barrett making a potential shock move from the Hurricanes to the Blues, but the Wellington club aren’t giving up on their star man just yet.
A New Zealand Herald report, released on Wednesday, stated that the Blues are chasing the signature of the two-time World Player of the Year in a monumental move that could have significant implications on future results for both franchises.
It isn’t the first time the Auckland-based side have pursued the signature of the 28-year-old playmaker, as he turned down an offer to sign with the three-time champions in 2016, instead choosing to stay on with the Hurricanes, the side that he has been part of since 2011.
However, a Hurricanes spokesperson told Stuff that the club is still talking to Barrett, who is off contract with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] at the end of the year, and his representatives as he assesses his playing options beyond 2019.
“Given Beauden is off contract currently, there is always bound to be a great deal of speculation as to his future,” the spokesperson said.
“He will always be in demand at a large number of clubs throughout the world.
“We can’t progress anything past that point at the moment, but we will continue to talk to Beauden, who has been a long serving and stand out player for the Hurricanes.”
Blues chief executive Michael Redman told Stuff in a statement that he won’t publicly discuss the attempted acquisition of Barrett or any other player.
“Our policy remains unchanged that we never comment on speculation around player or staff recruitment,” he said.
The Blues have been desperate for a world-class first-five since the departure of Carlos Spencer in 2005, and their inability to unearth a star playmaker has been a major factor in their title drought, which has lasted since 2003.
Since then, they have unsuccessfully tried to pursuade the likes of Barrett and ex-Crusaders and All Blacks legend Dan Carter to move north.
The signature of rugby league star Benji Marshall for the 2014 campaign brought with it a lot of fanfare, but the 27-test Kiwis pivot was a flop, playing in six matches and scoring just nine points before moving back to Sydney to play for the St George-Illawarra Dragons in the NRL.
In Otere Black, Stephen Perofeta and Harry Plummer, the Blues side already have three first-fives signed on for next year.
However, should the Blues sign Barrett, the 73-test All Black would be unlikely to play for them until the 2021 season, as it is believed he is expected to take a sabbatical in the Japanese Top League in 2020.
What’s more is that the impact of that unlikely transfer could trigger another remarkable player movement between New Zealand clubs.
Barrett’s All Blacks and Hurricanes teammate and younger brother, Jordie, is also off-contract with NZR at the end of this year, and is yet to announce his decision on his playing future.
Should Beauden opt to leave the Hurricanes and move to the Blues via the Top League, a shift may be on the cards for Jordie as well.
The presence of Beauden within the Hurricanes squad played a big part in his signing with the club ahead of the 2017 season, especially given he was offered a contract by the Crusaders while he was playing in the Mitre 10 Cup for Canterbury in 2016.
With older brother Scott still a prominent member of the back-to-back reigning Super Rugby champions, the departure of Beauden from the nation’s capital could make a move back to Christchurch an appealing option for Jordie.
Jordie’s versatility is a key aspect of his game – he can play fullback, wing, both midfield positions and can even cover at first-five – and with Ryan Crotty leaving for the Kubota Spears in Japan after this year’s World Cup, and the anticipated exit of the long-serving Tim Bateman, up to two spots could open up in the Crusaders’ midfield for next year’s squad.
The opportunity to link up with All Blacks teammate Jack Goodhue to form a formidable 12-13 partnership could be a tantalising prospect for the 22-year-old, not to mention the chance to play Super Rugby alongside another one of his four brothers.
A backline re-shuffle could also see David Havili, Braydon Ennor or Ngane Punivai move into the centres, freeing up room for Jordie to play in his preferred position of fullback alongside a raft of extremely talented outside backs within the Crusaders’ ranks, which includes George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Manasa Mataele.
However, one would expect the Hurricanes to do everything in their power to prevent one, let alone two, of the Barrett brothers from leaving their squad.
Regardless of whether Beauden decides to stay or leave the Hurricanes, the ramifications of his decision could prove to be massive.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments