Taleni Seu still on the long road to recovery from the same injury that has struck down Brodie Retallick
Taleni Seu would have to be one of the unluckiest men in New Zealand rugby right now.
Seu debuted for Auckland in 2015 after being whistled up to the squad as an injury replacement. The then-21-year-old made eight appearances in Auckland’s second-place finish.
Dave Rennie liked what he saw of Seu and promptly snapped him up for the Chiefs for 2016.
Seu’s now been playing professional rugby for four years but has managed just 67 appearances in that timeframe. That means he’s played in just two thirds of the games he could have over that period.
That’s not because Seu’s simply not getting selected, however. Rather, it’s because he’s had a torrid run of injuries.
Seu’s first season in Super Rugby was a roaring success, with the lock-cum-flanker making appearances in every game of the Chiefs’ 2016 campaign. Seu was invalidated part way through 2017 due to a broken arm, missed over half of 2018 due to a spine fracture, and then spent the latter half of this year on the sidelines due to a shoulder dislocation.
The latest injury will unfortunately keep Seu out of Waikato’s campaign for the year – which is a major disappointment, given it will be his first season with the province.
“It’s coming along well,” Seu said of his shoulder at the recent Mitre 10 Cup launch.
“It’s been about four months. I had surgery two months after I’d done it. I’ll be back playing in December.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be back to play Mitre 10 Cup but I’m just trying to enjoy my time at Waikato, add what I can add and help out where I can help out.”
Seu has a lot to offer to a fast progressing Waikato team and will bring with him the experience of winning a Premiership with Auckland last season – despite only being fit for and playing the knockout matches of the Mitre 10 Cup campaign.
“I guess I’m just enjoying the rugby. Coming from Auckland, we won it last year, hopefully I can bring some of the traits that we had up there with me,” said Seu.
“(Auckland and Waikato have) pretty different environments, but I can feel the same energy, the same attitude from players.”
Waikato had a reasonably good season themselves last year, winning the Championship and gaining promotion back into the top flight. They’ll miss last season’s top try-scorer, Sevu Reece, for at least the early stages of the competition due to his selection in the national side, but there’s still plenty of firepower in the team.
One teammate of Seu’s who won’t feature for the All Blacks for the next wee while is Brodie Retallick, who has himself suffered a dislocated shoulder.
“From the look on his face, you could just see it (hurt so much). And that’s exactly how I felt. You need someone to hold onto you because it’s too painful.”
Seu spent the first two months of his dislocate rehabbing the injury before ultimately settling on surgery, which is why the recovery time has been so extensive.
Instead of getting out onto the field, Seu has had to rely on ways to keep himself occupied.
“Things like this (planting trees at Koru School in south Auckland), makes me happy, keeps me occupied. I enjoy this stuff.
“I sort of wanted to get into some coaching stuff. That’s keeping me occupied as well. I’ve done some stuff with the Harlequins in Waikato. Just helping out with Waikato on some defence stuff. If I can develop that, and grow, who knows.”
Seu is in a complicated situation looking forward to the future as 2019 was his last year contracted to the Chiefs.
“I’m still looking for something, hopefully. If something comes off shore than that’ll be it. At the moment I’m just trying to get back on the field.”
Hopefully a new contract with the Chiefs beckons, given the strong performances that Seu has put in for the franchise over the last few years. A season overseas could be on the cards for Seu otherwise, but you get the feeling that the versatile backrower would be happiest sticking around in Hamilton.
With Warren Gatland returning home for 2020, the signs are looking good for next year.
“A new coach at the Chiefs is exciting. Even if you look at this year, we weren’t doing too well but still made the quarters.”
Seu won’t be able to advance his cause any further on the field this year, but maybe his off-field coaching and assistance will help him grow even further as a player.
Whatever happens, one team is going to end up with an experienced head who can offer as much on the pitch as he can off it.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 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.
37 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.
2 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
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
37 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.
37 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.
37 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.
37 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments