Etene Nanai-Seturo's journey from NRL prospect to Chiefs' weapon
Etene Nanai-Seturo is a staple of the Chiefs backline. The left winger has played 48 matches (27 wins) and scored 17 tries.
Nanai-Seturo partners All Blacks Shaun Stevenson and Emoni Nawara in Super Rugby Pacific’s most potent back three. In 2023 the trio scored 25 tries between them. In 2024 they have crossed the stripe five times in five matches.
Nanai-Seturo is supremely gifted on the counter-attack with a dizzying sidestep that rivals his cousin, Samoan international Tim Nanai-Williams. He’s added a prodigious left boot to his arsenal.
“We know each other’s strengths. Shooter is the older, wiser one, whereas Emoni and I are looser,” Nanai-Seturo told RugbyPass.
“Shooter is a leader who gives us a lot of confidence, so does Damian McKenzie, to back ourselves. If we make the wrong decision, as long as we are decisive, we can’t complain.”
The Chiefs have won 19 of their past 22 matches with Nanai-Seturo a more confident and assertive kicker; something that wasn’t a feature of his game.
“When you get to the big stage you must work on your all-around game. David Hill has developed my kicking boot and given me confidence. When I shank my kicks, he gives me good feedback to stay square and finish where I want the ball to go,” Nanai-Seturo said.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, but having a big left foot clears pressure on the left edge. When I kick depends, on what’s going on around me. If 10 and 15 are holding the edge I want to kick long down the middle. If we are under pressure I might want to kick out. It’s about reading the situation at the time.”
David Hill was an All Blacks first-five who scored 1401 points in 177 first-class games. Could Nanai-Seturo replicate his kicking mentor and earn national selection?
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself. Credit to Caleb Clarke, Mark Telea, and Sevu Reece. I really admire the way they play,” Nanai-Seturo said.
In 2023 Nanai-Seturo won the Duane Monkley medal as the best player in the NPC for Counties Manukau. He scored six tries in eight appearances as the Steelers improved the number of wins, tries, and points scored from the previous season.
He’s played 13 tournaments for the All Blacks Sevens winning a Commonwealth Games gold and Olympics silver medal.
An age-grade star, Nanai-Seturo won two 1A Premierships at St Kentigern College in Auckland and represented the undefeated New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2017.
One of six siblings, Nanai-Seturo was born and raised in Otara, South Auckland. His parents are “still in the hood.”
“My Dad’s from a pretty big sports family. He’s got 17 siblings, no one actually believes it until they see them. They’re all in Brisbane,” Nanai-Seturo laughed.
“Dad wanted to do something different so he came to New Zealand. I’m grateful for that because I love this place.”
Nanai-Seturo was educated at a Seventh-Day Adventist school and then at Sir Edmund Hillary College. In Year 10 Nanai-Seturo and some friends were offered a scholarship to St Kent’s.
“When they gave us a scholarship we were like we’ll just do rugby,” Nanai-Seturo laughed.
“We found it tough, and we spoke about leaving. There was more to it. When rugby training came and we settled I grew to love that bloody school,” Nanai-Seturo said.
“Tai Lavea played a huge role in my decision to stay in the rugby pathway. I’m grateful to Tai and his family. He did a lot for me and all the Poly boys on and off the field.”
Lavea won five 1A titles and the 2012 National Top Four title at St Kent’s. Dalton Papilli, Tamati Williams, Finlay Christie, Seta Tamanivalu, and Suli Vunivalu are some of the internationals who passed through.
Nanai-Seturo signed a five-year contract with the Warriors as a 15-year-old but wriggled his way out of the NRL to pursue rugby. In 2019 he was named Chiefs Rookie of the Year and his ascent has only been upward.
Last Saturday the Chiefs consolidated their position in the top four of Super Rugby Pacific with a fifth-round 28-21 victory over the Highlanders. The Chiefs were ahead 28-0 after half an hour.
“We started well but at the back end of the first half we made some errors that put us under pressure,” Nanai-Seturo said.
“In the second half, we didn’t match their energy. Our skills let us down, our discipline let us down. We were fortunate to come away with the dub. It was an ugly win.”
At their best the Chiefs are sumptuous. They smashed Australia’s best the Brumbies 46-12 in the second round.
In the opening round, the Chiefs beat the Crusaders scoring 27 of their 33 points in the first half.
Presently the Crusaders are an unprecedented 0-5. Last Saturday the Crusaders failed to score a try in a match for the first time since 2015 (145 matches).
The embattled Crusaders host the Chiefs in Christchurch on Friday. The Chiefs have won three of the past four matches. Nanai-Seturo isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s weird seeing them in the position they’re in now. It doesn’t change anything for us. We’ve got a job to do.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments