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Beauden Barrett's agony in deciding to leave Hurricanes for Blues

By Online Editors
Beauden Barrett. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald

Once Beauden Barrett decided that he wanted to live full-time in Auckland with wife Hannah, who lives and works in the city, the decision to leave the Hurricanes for the Blues became more straightforward, but that didn’t make it any easier.

In fact, after beginning talks with the Blues about six weeks ago, he agonised on his decision and had many conversations, including with his dad, Kevin, or “Smiley”, as the former Hurricanes loose forward is more commonly known.

The All Blacks No 10 has been at the Hurricanes for eight years – 125 games – and was a big part of their maiden Super Rugby championship win in 2016, but after agreeing to re-commit to New Zealand Rugby for another four years, commuting to Wellington for that long was out of the question.

“It wasn’t an easy call at all,” Barrett, 28, said. “It’s been a tough two months while trying to do my best and focus on the Hurricanes during the recent competition. In the back of your mind there’s always these contractual things you have to deal with. You try to put that aside when it comes to training and playing.”

The Herald revealed four weeks ago that the Blues were in serious talks to lure Barrett north to fill what for them has been a problem position since the departure of Carlos Spencer 14 years ago.

That they have managed to do so is a huge boost because once Barrett has a break after the World Cup and is available mid-way through the 2020 Super Rugby season, he will provide sorely-needed quality and direction in the No 10 jersey. The two-time world player of the year could also help convince others to join him at a franchise that last won a title in 2003 and finished 13th this year.

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Beuaden Barrett with the Blues. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Significantly, Barrett’s brother Jordie is also off contract this year. It’s understood the Blues have put in an offer to take him, too, but the Highlanders are also in the market as they seek to fill the departure of Ben Smith.

Barrett said of Jordie: “He’s going through his contractual stuff at the moment. I’m not too sure where that’s at. He’ll make a call when he’s ready.”

In an interview with Newstalk ZB, Smiley Barrett said: “Jordie has a tough decision to make too. That was why he moved to the Hurricanes, to play with Beauden, so he has a tough couple of weeks ahead of him.”

Should Jordie move to the Blues too, the Hurricanes’ displeasure can only be imagined because their media statement on Beauden’s departure made clear their disappointment and behind the scenes there is a frustration that NZ Rugby smoothed the way a little too much for Beauden to leave.

Beauden said he had received offers from overseas clubs at the start of the year, but felt he still had much to offer in New Zealand and that is music to the ears of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

“It was a big decision for him to leave the Hurricanes, no doubt about that,” Hansen said. “It was one that I would suggest he spent a lot of sleepless nights over because he’s a loyal guy and a lot of people might challenge that loyalty but he has to do what’s right for him and his family and I think that’s what he’s done.”

Barrett said he hoped Hurricanes’ fans would understand why he is leaving. “I grew up dreaming of being a Hurricane and I’m so proud of playing the number of games I have for them. Circumstances change, people grow older and move on to different jobs … hopefully a lot of the Canes fans will understand the big picture.”

As for potentially facing the Hurricanes next year, he said: “That will be an interesting one. There will be plenty of banter. The boys are already talking about what they’re going to do and so on. So is [Blues wing] Rieko [Ioane] and a few of the others. We’ll worry about that when we come to it, but it will probably be a bit emotional.”

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.

In other news:

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john 51 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

14 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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