The former 1st XV loose forward now making it as a winger with the Hurricanes
A former loose forward converting to the wing after college and becoming a star with the Hurricanes. It sounds like Jonah Lomu.
“I wish,” new Hurricanes rookie Daniel Sinkinson laughed.
“I’m a little bit small to be Jonah.”
Sinkinson might lack the size of the late, great All Black, but he doesn’t suffer from a lack of perseverance.
The building apprentice, raised on a farm in Te Kuiti was uncertain whether he even had an NPC contract with Waikato last year. At the beginning of the 2022 season, he was living “week to week.”
“I wasn’t going to play. My understanding was that I was going to be paid a retainer, but it took a while to come through, so I rang the coaches and asked if I’d be needed,” he told RugbyPass.
“They encouraged me to be patient and I ended up starting every game.”
Sinkinson had debuted for Waikato in a 37-33 win against Bay of Plenty in 2021, it was his only appearance in the Premiership-winning season.
He started 2022 by scoring a try in the first game of the season, a 32-32 draw against Hawkes Bay where Liam Messam reached 100 games for Waikato.
The Mooloos caught fire initially residing at the top of the table three-quarters of the way through the round-robin. Sinkinson played blinders against Auckland scoring once, Manawatu scoring twice and Southland scoring a hat-trick.
Unfortunately, Waikato fizzled out at the business end of the season, toppled by Bay of Plenty in the quarter-finals, despite converting 34 of their 40 tries.
“The boys are pretty tight, and the culture is unreal. I guess that’s what lockdown and seven weeks of literally living together in 2021 do.
“Personally it was awesome to play in the same backline as Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown. They’ve got so much experience and they give you so much space and opportunity.
“I couldn’t believe it when I got a call from Jason Holland asking to play for the Hurricanes. It’s a weird story but I couldn’t be more stoked.”
Much of the Hurricanes legend has been built by its wingers.
The aforementioned Lomu (29 games, 11 tries), Cory Jane (121 games, 32 tries), Wes Goosen (71 games, 31 tries), Tana Umaga (122 games, 47 tries), Julian Savea (142 games, 59 tries), Hosea Gear (70 games, 26 tries), Nehe Milner Skudder (36 games, 8 tries) and Vince Aso (58 games, 23 tries) are just some of the names who have breathed life into the Hurricanes exciting, “expect the unexpected” reputation.
How will Sinkinson add to the legacy?
“It’s pretty surreal training with the bus and being coached by CJ. I’m learning every day,” he said.
“Wing is different from what it used to be. There is much more to think about like running lines, high balls, kicking, and finishing. Against some teams, it’s like there are three fullbacks on the field.”
Versatility in rugby has been a theme for Sinkinson. He started as a loose forward, good enough to make the Hamilton Boys’ High School First XV in 2018 that won Super 8 and made the National Top Four losing to eventual winners St Peter’s College, Auckland in the semi-finals.
“As a flanker, I was quick on the side of the scrum, strong in the tackle, and a general menace.
“I enjoyed Hamilton Boys’ First XV but the second XV a year before was even better. The firsts are run like a professional team. We were training seven times a week with shuttle runs on Monday mornings before school. It was pretty hectic, good for some, others it broke.”
Sinkinson largely stood up to the rigors of the Hamilton First XV but it wasn’t until he played sevens and helped Hamilton win two National Condors titles he found complete fulfillment in his rugby.
“I grew to love sevens and had a crack at it after leaving school. I was really fit and found my skills and the extra space suited the game.
“Physically I’m not big enough to dominate the tackle area. I even tried centre but there wasn’t much doing.”
The Hurricanes season kicks off on February 24 when they travel to Townsville to play the Reds.
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
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.
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
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 comments