Waisake Naholo 'not as fast as before' but fizzing for NPC return
Waisake Naholo could be the best signing of the 2021 NPC but at this stage, it’s hard to tell what the former All Black will offer a Canterbury side already well-stocked in the outside backs.
Naholo left New Zealand’s shores following the 2019 season, having last work the black jersey on the All Blacks‘ end of year tour a year prior.
While the Fijian-born winger then spent two seasons with London Irish in the English Premiership, the 30-year-old clocked up just four appearances for the Exiles due to a combinations of untimely injuries and the global pandemic.
Now, after spending a season playing club rugby in Dunedin, Naholo will run out for Canterbury in the upcoming provincial season kicking off on August 6.
“He did have limited game time for Irish, party due to injury, but partly just due to Covid and some other circumstances that interrupted his rehab, it’s probably not as drastic as it might seem – the number of games he’s played,” Canterbury co-coach Mark Brown told Stuff earlier this week.
“It’s not often you get to welcome someone of that calibre of player into the squad, with his NPC and Super experience, and obviously the great contribution he made to the All Blacks. We’re very fortunate, and it’s exciting for the whole group.”
Naholo admitted he tried to link back up with Taranaki before ultimately signing with Canterbury, the side he played 35 matches for over nine seasons were full-up in the outside backs.
Canterbury aren’t exactly short of talent in the wings either, however.
All Blacks George Bridge and Braydon Ennor are both likely to clock up some minutes in the red and black this season due to their injury-enforced lack of gametime this year. Fijian international Manasa Mataele is also a threatening ball-runner, while brothers Isaiah and Chay Punivai could also suit up in the outside backs. Factor in Glasgow-bound Josh McKay and youngster Cam Bailey, and Naholo may struggle for regular games.
Naholo was a prodigious talent in his formative years with the Highlanders but a broken leg suffered in 2015 hampered the big wing and he never quite reached the same heights, despite clocking up 27 appearances for the All Blacks. Now, two years since his departure, Naholo has admitted that he’s not quite as deadly as he once was.
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“To join this club as well is something else for me, I’m really excited. I didn’t think anyone was going to pick me up,” he said on the SENZ Afternoons radio show.
“Probably not as fast as before but if I’ve got space I’ll put the foot down a bit. If I’m not too fast then I’ll probably just have to look for contact.”
Still, if the 30-year-old possesses even a fraction of the firepower that made him a fan-favourite in the deep south, then perhaps a brilliant run with Canterbury isn’t off the cards – and maybe even a Super Rugby recall could be a possibility.
For now, however, Naholo only has eyes for the provincial season.
“At the moment, just the NPC. Hopefully I’ll get something with Super Rugby, if they’re happy then that’s a bonus for me.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except 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.
33 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
33 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
33 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.
33 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. 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.
33 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.
33 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.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments