Why representing the Blues has never been the goal for All Black Jack Goodhue
When New Zealand’s Super 12 franchises were created back in 1996, the idea was to create five teams that would give everyone in the country – no matter where they reside – a team to root for.
That didn’t quite work out in practice, however.
The five clubs were each handed a number of regions across the country from which they were allowed to recruit players. This gave the squads a little bit of variety but the vast majority of players still came from the five major centres of the country – Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.
Factor in that those five regions were attached to the five club names and you can understand why there may have been a little bit of disconnect between the provinces with fewer Super 12 players and the franchises that were supposed to represent them.
The chopping and changing of what franchise represented what region also didn’t help creating identities for the clubs. The Auckland Blues started out with Auckland and Counties Manukau under their umbrella but after a few years swapped the latter region for Northland and North Harbour. It was a move that made geographical sense – but it didn’t help create especially strong ties behind Northland and the Blues, at least in the early days.
In recent years, particularly since Tana Umaga came on board as head and now assistant coach, Northland and North Harbour have had larger presences in the Blues set-up, but the Blues team of the early 2000s was hardly representative of the wider region.
For Jack Goodhue, who is native to the Blues region but plays for the Crusaders, that disconnect didn’t foster any major desire in the 25-year-old to represent his local Super Rugby side from an early age.
“I think, growing up, you had the likes of Rene Ranger, Gus Collins and Rupeni Caucaunibuca, as I remember,” Goodhue told RugbyPass regarding his early memories of the Blues team.
“I’m sure there was a couple of others, but me being a kid I didn’t really know too much – that seemed like the max of the representation. So it didn’t seem like a pathway (for Northland natives), as such.”
Goodhue didn’t aspire to play for the Crusaders either, however. In fact, the All Black midfielder only had one prize in mind – representing his Northland region in the New Zealand provincial competition.
“I felt really connected to Northland,” Goodhue said. “That was the team that my family and I would watch live, so it was always a dream of mine to play for them.
“As a kid, passions get ignited and I guess that’s where dreams come from and what you want to do with your life. I just didn’t have that same attachment to the Blues – for no reason other than I just wasn’t from that area as such.”
“The dream was always to play for Northland, and that was where my heart lied.”
The widespread layout of the region makes it tough even now for the fans in the top parts of the nation to really get behind the Blues, despite the best efforts of the franchise to bring together three fairly separate (yet still technically identical) reasons.
“The Blues region is so massive,” said Goodhue. “It’s a three- to three-and-a-half-hour drive to get from where I live to central Auckland.”
While Goodhue and his twin brother Josh both went to school in central Auckland, Jack was lured to Lincoln University on a rugby scholarship and started to play his rugby for Canterbury. Despite technically hailing from the Blues region, there was no turning back for the Northlander.
“I think the Blues did an awesome job of talking to my brother and I,” Goodhue said. “They wanted us to stay and tried to make that happen. But by then, I was already down in Christchurch and studying there and I just liked Christchurch as a city.”
Goodhue is in the final year of his current contract with the Crusaders and will likely be based in Christchurch for the long-term future, but he has left a slither of hope to other franchises that he may be willing to make a move at some point – for one reason.
“I love it down in Christchurch but of course the big incentive is playing with my twin brother,” said Goodhue of Josh, who is contracted with the Blues.
“That would be the motivation for if there was ever going to be a change but I’m really settled with the Crusaders and love being here and love what the team’s about and really feel a part of it.”
Jack and Josh played together for Northland during Jack’s debut season with the Taniwha in 2017 but Jack has had limited opportunities to don the province’s Cambridge blue jersey since then due to his All Blacks commitments.
“It was really cool because I’ve got so many cousins and family in Whangarei, so they were all able to come watch me play live – something that some of them have never been able to do before,” Goodhue said regarding his Northland debut.
“Also just to play with my twin brother… and it just really is that every player in the Northland team I really like. They’re all just good guys. I guess we’re all from similar upbringings, the lot of us. They are just a really good team.
Like the Blues, Northland has its own challenges due to the sheer size of the region – which traverses all the way from Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island down to Wellsford (roughly a five-hour car journey).
"I was always having words to Jack… I was saying to him, 'Are you ready to move to 12 for me?' And then it eventually turned to, 'Please move to 12 for me.'"
Braydon Ennor spoke to @TomVinicombe about life with @CrusadersRugby. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/IE9Z7qRX2V
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 26, 2020
“Yeah, it’s really spread out and that makes the development quite difficult when it comes to having the academy,” Goodhue said. “They have two or three different academies and managing that can be very difficult.
“But what’s awesome about Northland is that a large majority follow the rugby. It’s kind of Northland’s main sports team. You walk down the street and people know what’s going on. There’s a high percentage of Northlanders that watch the rugby, more than perhaps the city provinces.”
Of course, one of the proposed rugby events for 2020 is a North Island v South Island match – and Goodhue has a finger in both pies. Given his strong ties to Northland, however, would he choose to represent the North Island, if the choice was up to him?
“I don’t even know if I want to make that decision,” Goodhue said. “Man, I think about the opportunity to play with some guys in the North Island that I haven’t played with before, but then to go back and play with the Crusader boys and Highlander boys… I mean, I think it’s going to be two very good teams. It’s all good either way.
Before that exhibition match can take place, however, Goodhue and his Crusaders teammates have the first-ever Super Rugby Aotearoa competition to play for, which kicks off in mid-June.
While pundits will be quick to talk up the fact that the Crusaders will likely be fielding two midfielders who were born and raised in the Blues region when the two sides face off in the fifth and final rounds of the competition– Goodhue and Braydon Ennor – it’s safe to say their won’t be any split allegiances.
Goodhue is a Crusader through-and-through despite his Northland upbringings and will be doing his part to get his side over the line come matchday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry 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.
1 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.
2 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
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments