'There's no place like home': Damian McKenzie hints at future
Although still in the throes of working out the finer details, Damian McKenzie has indicated that he’ll be likely be heading back to the Chiefs for next year’s Super Rugby season.
With his former contract with New Zealand Rugby coming to an end last year, McKenzie signed a one-year deal with Japan Rugby League One side Tokyo Sungoliath for the 2022 season, which has seen the 26-year-old miss the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition this year.
Unlike men like Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and now Patrick Tuipulotu, McKenzie didn’t head to Japan on any sort of playing sabbatical and hadn’t negotiated a new contract with NZR before heading offshore, which means the utility back likely won’t be able to play for the All Blacks until he’s linked up with an NPC side later this year.
Speaking from Japan, McKenzie confirmed that while nothing’s been signed just yet, a return to the Chiefs for 2022 is the likeliest way forward for the All Black.
“Just working through that at the moment,” McKenzie said. “Still in the process now, looking at the plan at the moment.
“I’ve been looked after extremely well at the Chiefs. Obviously moved there straight out of school and it’s a team I hold dearly in my heart, even just watching them back home, as much as I’ve loved being over here with the club, Suntory, you do miss the lads back home as well.
“It’s a club I love playing at. I’m obviously close to playing 100 games, that would be an awesome achievement to bring up alongside a lot of great players who have done that as well. It shouldn’t be a hard decision [to link up with the Chiefs once more], I wouldn’t have thought.”
While the Chiefs would not doubt have loved to have McKenzie on the books this season, the Waikato-based team have been building nicely throughout the season and are currently sitting on four wins from six matches played.
In McKenzie’s absence, the likes of Bryn Gatland, Josh Ioane, Kaleb Trask, Emoni Narawa and Chase Tiatia have shared duties in the first five and fullback positions.
Although McKenzie obviously hasn’t been involved, he says he’s been keeping a close eye on the action from Japan and is looking forward to seeing the Chiefs take on the Blues in what could be a crucial game this weekend.
“I’ve watched pretty much all their games. The timings to watch the rugby back home is really good and obviously got the Aussie boys here too so we usually tune into the New Zealand games and then watch a few of the Aussie games afterwards.
“The boys are playing really well, I think. I’m pretty impressed with how a lot of the younger guys have stepped up, have got a couple more years experience and just really getting stuck into their work. I think the game last weekend showed that when they scored some great tries with a pretty young outfit there at the end of the game.
“The boys are playing really well and obviously Battle of the Bombays, it’s always a big game against the Blues, but the boys will be up for it and I’m sure I’ll be tuning in and watching them get after it.”
There has been talk recently that with McKenzie struggling to earn a starting role last year for the All Blacks given the depth in the national side and how the Japanese league suits the pocket-rocket’s style of play, McKenzie might make the decision to remain in Japan. While McKenzie certainly didn’t quash the narrative that he could one day return to League One, he did suggest that he was looking forward to getting back to playing in NZ in the near future.
“I’ve come over to Japan, obviously got here in December, and just loved it,” he said. “Suntory’s a great club.
“Obviously the Japanese people are so welcoming, so respectful, and lucky to have some great foreign lads here as well … And then obviously got coaching staff, Milton [Haig] and Jase [O’Halloran] who are from New Zealand as well. Even the Japanese staff, management, they’re great people. I really enjoy the rugby; afternoon games are awesome. It’s been fun so far.
“I’ve always wanted to come back home, obviously, and you do miss the lifestyle and people back home with family and stuff. Japan’s obviously a place I’d love to come back to at some stage, whether that’s shortly or a little bit later, we’ll soon find out. It’s been awesome so far over here, I’m loving it. But there’s no place like home either.”
McKenzie has clocked up seven appearances and 115 points for the Sungoliath during this year’s Japan Rugby League One season and has been an ever-present selection – barring one week where Covid prevented the 26-year-old from taking part – for the team that’s currently leading the overall standings.
There are just five rounds left to play before the finals get underway for 2022.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments