Brad Shields: The 'one' similarity between 2026 Hurricanes and 2016 champion team

Brad Shields has identified one major similarity between the 2016 Hurricanes team that won the club’s first and only Super Rugby title and the 2026 squad aiming to produce the long-awaited sequel.

Shields is the only member of the squad from a decade ago to be with the team in 2026, although he will face two former teammates from the championship year, Beauden Barrett and Pita Ahki, in this weekend’s semi-final against the Blues, and is coached by another 2016 champ in Cory Jane.

While there is little cohesion among the personnel involved in the two eras, Shields says the winning ingredients are consistent, and the 2026 Hurricanes have the off-field components that played a crucial role in their 2016 win.

“If you look at the season as a whole, the one thing that sticks out is that the rugby’s one part of it, but the culture, the standards that you set, the buy-in from all of the boys, that’s at an all-time high, similar to what I felt back then,” Shields explained.

“I think if you get all of that stuff set, from alignment through our owners, through Clarky (Laidlaw), through our coaches and through to the players, no matter who’s in our system, so long as you’ve got our culture right, the boys are willing to get better every day, our game’s going to flourish.

“We’ve got maturity in our group, we’ve got experience within our group, so it’s just about creating an environment where we can express ourselves on the field.

“And, using those experiences from the past as well. We’ve come up short so many times, almost like it was before that 2016 title. The Hurricanes have always been there or thereabouts. I just think at the moment our maturity is right where it needs to be, and our culture is right where it needs to be to get a good performance consistently.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

33

25

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

60%

In addition to the experienced heads leading the way, the Canes also have a small army of young stars, one of whom, Peter Lakai, will run out for his 50th game against the Blues.

Shields has seen the young All Black blossom over the past three years, and has found the 23-year-old’s talent and character wildly impressive.

“He’s a special kid. Clarky mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, you know what you’re going to get with Pete: it’s either going to be an eight out of 10, a nine out of 10, or a 10 out of 10 game. He’s pretty consistent; he turns up every week. He’s a bit of a freak of nature with his skills, the way he sees the game and his anticipation of the game.

“For a young guy to bring up 50 games — I’m not sure what age I was when I got to 50, but I don’t think it was 23 — it’s pretty impressive. He looks after himself, and he’s enjoying his rugby. He doesn’t say a lot, but when he needs to, he puts his hand up and does his work, and that’s all we ask. I’m hoping to see him again in higher honours later in the year.”

The Blues enter the semi-final on the back of four consecutive losses, making the penultimate round of the competition as a result of a ‘lucky loser’ playoff system.

The Hurricanes, who have only lost three games all year and won their qualifying final by a record 54 points, are heavy favourites, but remain wary of the 2024 champions. Shields says he expects the Blues to come out “all guns firing.”

“They’re certainly a team that can turn up on the night,” he said. “You saw the way they started that game against the Crusaders; it’s almost like a different Blues team. So we’re ready for that and anything they bring.”