'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.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
50 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.
10 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.
50 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.
3 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
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
50 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
50 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
50 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
50 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments