'It's been sort of a long road for me' - How Hurricanes starlet Chase Tiatia is finally realising his Super Rugby potential
Chase Tiatia has always been a standout player for whatever team he has ended up at.
After leaving school in 2013, the talented fullback was named as Wellington’s most promising player of 2014, prior to his shift to Bay of Plenty a year later.
He has starred at domestic level for the Steamers in recent seasons, with his lightning footwork and top-end agility setting him apart from an array of other outside backs in the Mitre 10 Cup, and it was enough to earn him a deal with the Chiefs in 2016.
However, despite being handed his first Super Rugby contract three years ago, Tiatia only made his debut at that level a few weeks ago for the Hurricanes in their 43-13 thumping of the Brumbies in Palmerston North.
So, how did someone with so much potential have to wait so long for his first crack in Super Rugby?
“I broke my ankle, I fractured the top of my fibula, I tore the ligaments in my elbow,” the 23-year-old told Stuff.
“Tore a few cartilage in my ribs. I think that’s about all.”
A wretched run of injuries has limited Tiatia’s chances above domestic level, with his solitary appearance during his two-year stay with the Chiefs coming from off the bench in their hefty 34-6 defeat to the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
He was released by incoming head coach Colin Cooper ahead of the 2018 campaign, and was limited to an injury cover contract with the Hurricanes last year.
Left to toil away at grassroots level with the Hutt Old Boys Marist club in Wellington, Tiatia was “quite disappointed” to receive the same deal with the Hurricanes this year after a particularly stellar Mitre 10 Cup campaign with Bay of Plenty.
Fortunes began to turn his way, though, with injuries to outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder and veteran first-five/fullback James Marshall freeing enough room within the squad for Tiatia to earn some game time.
His sensational outing against the Brumbies has been enough to see him retain his spot at fullback in consecutive matches against the Highlanders and Chiefs, and this weekend, he will start his fourth match in a row against the Stormers at Westpac Stadium.
“It’s been sort of a long road for me,” Tiatia said.
“A few years of setbacks, so I just thought I’d go out and there and take my opportunity and just give it my all. I thought I did that in the first game and they gave me a shot for the second.”
After a prolonged stint on the sidelines and multiple contract rejections from the Chiefs and Hurricanes, Tiatia admits that doubt crept into his mind as to whether he would ever make it in Super Rugby after starting his career as a highly-touted prospect.
“You always do [doubt yourself], especially when you’ve just got injured and returning to play is so far away.
“My ankle took me seven months to be able to get back on the rugby field, so in those first three months, you sort of lose sight of it all, but then you surround yourself with good people and good company and they sort of help you through your journey.”
It is a journey of which he will look to ride for as long as possible before the impending returns of Milner-Skudder and Marshall later this season.
While the duo will undoubtedly feature for the Hurricanes upon their return from injury, the form and versatility of Tiatia – who can also play first-five and wing – may be too much for head coach John Plumtree to let go.
It is a decision of which that will be made in the future, but for now, Tiatia is looking to soak up as much knowledge as possible from his more experienced teammates who form the Hurricanes’ star-studded backline.
“I’ve been training here for a year and a half now, but actually going out on the field and playing with those guys, I’ve learned so much in these last three weeks.
“It’s unbelievable the way they see the game and the way they communicate things. It’s just mind blowing.”
Watch – Raelene Castle on Sunwolves axing:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
34 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments