'Needs to be their main man': Why McKenzie holds the key to Chiefs' title hopes

Rugby World Cup winning flyhalf Stephen Donald believes Damian McKenzie holds the key to the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific title hopes this season.

Every championship team in the history of sports has had its star player.

The Golden State Warriors have Steph Curry, the New England Patriots had Tom Brady, and the legendary New York Yankees had Babe Ruth.

Even the Crusaders have been bolstered by the playmaking genius of star pivot Richie Mo’unga throughout their dynasty. Clearly, a winning team needs their superstar – and the Chiefs have theirs.

Playmaker Damian McKenzie has returned to the Chiefs after taking a sabbatical in Japan last year.

While a return to the All Blacks evaded him in 2022, McKenzie would be considered my most rugby fans as a world-class talent.

With the ability to play at first-five and fullback, former All Blacks No. 10 Stephen Donald has explained why McKenzie needs to be given the playmaking reigns at flyhalf.

“I hope it’s at 10, I really do,” Donald told SENZ The Run Home.

“I think for the Chiefs to win the title, he needs to be their main man, so I hope it’s at 10.”

McKenzie made his Test debut at just 21 years of age, and has gone on to play a total of 40 matches in the coveted black jersey.

While a season-ending knee injury saw him miss out on the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the 27-year-old is well and truly in the mix ahead of this year’s tournament in France.

“To me, it’s not in doubt, he’ll be going to the World Cup. He’ll be in the All Blacks’ squad without ta shadow of a doubt,” he added.

“Probably at the expense of Perofeta I’d imagine, I don’t think there’s room for both of them in the 32-man squad for a World Cup.

“I just don’t see how you could take both of them doing a similar job.

“But no, for me, Damian McKenzie goes to the World Cup and for Chiefs fans… I certainly hope that he’ll be wearing the No. 10 jersey this year for the boys from the Tron.”

The Chiefs begin their pursuit of a Super Rugby Pacific title with probably the toughest fixture possible.

McKenzie and his teammates will travel south to Christchurch to take on reigning champions the Crusaders in the opening match of the new season on Friday.