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Blues linked with surprise No. 10 signing - and it's not Beauden Barrett
By Online Editors
New Zealand-born Sunwolves first-five Hayden Parker is the next playmaker on the wish list of the Blues, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Parker, a former Highlander, moved to Japan to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights and then the Kobe Steelers in the Top League before linking up with long-time mentors Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown at the Sunwolves last season.
Kobe still have Parker signed on for another season, but the Herald understands that the club, which also has ex-All Blacks legend Dan Carter on its books, will be bringing in another Kiwi playmaker in the form of Montpellier star Aaron Cruden for two years, which could be extended to a four-year deal.
The 30-year-old is expected to move to Japan from France in July, which could push Parker - who won't play for the Sunwolves regardless of Cruden's imminent arrival due to a clash in scheduling between the Top League and Super Rugby as a result of this year's World Cup - out of Japan completely.
Consequently, Parker's predicament has piqued the interest of the Blues, who are in the midst of chasing two-time World Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, whose contract with New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes runs out at the end of the year.
Parker, who has improved exponentially since arriving in Japan full-time at the end of 2017, would play an important role with the Blues if he was to re-locate to Auckland.
Even if the three-time Super Rugby champions did acquire the services of Barrett, it's unlikely he would play for the Blues until 2021 given that he will probably take a sabbatical in Japan for the entirety of the 2020 campaign.
"https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/112241199/super-rugby-hayden-parker-eyes-up-new-zealand-return-but-it-wont-be-in-2020">told Stuff in April that he would like to return to New Zealand, but had a preference to go back to the Highlanders, the side he debuted for in 2013.
"I would love to [come home]. But I just don't know if it will all work out," he said at the time.
The Highlanders won't have room to welcome back their former playmaker, however, as youngsters Josh Ioane and Bryn Gatland will return to the franchise, while Crusaders pivot Mitch Hunt will replace departing cult hero Marty Banks.
As it stands, the Blues currently have three first-fives in their ranks.
22-year-old Stephen Perofeta has the most promise of the trio, but didn't play at all this season due to a chest injury.
21-year-old Harry Plummer shared the starting duties with 24-year-old Otere Black, but neither set the world alight as the Blues succumbed to a seventh consecutive season without finals football to finish in 13th spot with five wins from 16 outings.
Their lack of success highlighted the Blues' need for a talented, experienced first-five, with 28-year-old duo Barrett and Parker both fitting the bill.
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That would help plug the gap left by Williams and Nonu, while freeing up a space at first-five for Parker while Barrett pursues his stint in Japanese club rugby.
Blues chairman Don Mackinnon recently told Newshub: "We need leaders, no doubt about that. I'm unashamedly going to encourage the organisation to look for talent outside of the region."
That sentiment bodes well for those wishing for Parker to turn out in a Blues jersey next year, while former All Blacks coach and current Blues board member, John Hart, is an admirer of the playmaker's ability.
Hart suggested Parker, who is uncapped at test level, could be an unlikely candidate to fill the void in the All Blacks' World Cup squad left by Damian McKenzie following his season-ending knee injury in April.
"He is experienced and one of the best goalkickers around, and brave," Hart told Radio Sport in April.
"He is a bit more experienced, and you need experience in the World Cup."
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Latest Comments
You’ve got to look forward to next weekend more than anything too.
They really use this sorta system? Much smaller pool of bonus points available, that would mean they have far less impact. Interestingly you must be withen winning range/chance in France’s Top 14 league, rather that just draw territory, so 6 points instead of 7. Fairly arbitrary and pointless (something the NRL would do to try and look cool), but kinda cool.
I said it Nick’s and other articles, I’m not sure about the fixed nature of matchups in these opening rounds. For instance, I would be interested in seeing an improved ranking/prediction/reflection ladder to what we had last year, were some author here game so rejigged list of teams purely based of ‘who had played who’ so far in the competition. It was designed to analyze the ladder and better predict what the real order would be after the full round robin had completed. It needed some improvement, like factoring in historical data as well, as it was a bit skiwif, but it is the sort of thing that would give a better depiction of what sort of contests weve had so far, because just using my intuition, the matchups have been very ‘level appropriate’ so far, and were jet to get the other end of the spectrum, season ranked bottom sides v top sides etc.
Go to commentsAs a former rugby player, I spent 20 years as a specialist tackling coach in the AFL, SANFL, and Southern Football League. During this time, I was fortunate to be part of teams winning seven premierships. I believe there is a valuable place for cross-code coaching in these sports. I made many lifelong friends and enjoyed sharing knowledge and skills from different sporting backgrounds, which is encouraged at many elite levels.
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