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‘My last chance’: Brad Weber eager to end Chiefs career ‘on a high’
By Finn Morton
For Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber, this is it. Weber’s decorated Super Rugby career in Hamilton will come to an end this month, and the All Black is intent on going “out on a high.”
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It was revealed earlier this week that Weber had signed a deal with French heavyweights Stade Francais in the prestigious Top 14 – confirming a report from L’Equipe in January.
Weber made his Chiefs debut in 2014, and has contributed to some famous wins over the years. But, at least so far, the All Black has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of Super Rugby glory.
So again, for Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber, this is it.
Many modern-day greats will farewell their franchises over the next few weeks, including the likes of Richie Mo’unga, Sam Whitelock and Dane Coles.
They’ll all want to end their illustrious careers as champions, and Weber is no different.
“I’ve known for a while, I guess,” Weber said. “I’ve been trying to win Super Rugby every year.
“I knew this day was going to have to come eventually. I’m just trying not to think of it.
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“It’ll be a bit of a sad day when it happens – hopefully it’ll be in there weeks’ time.
“It definitely puts the pressure on. I want to go out on a high, I want to win.
“I’ve been chasing it for 10 years and haven’t gotten there. This is my last chance at it.”
It’s fitting – almost poetic in a rugby sense – that this is arguably Weber’s best chance at Super Rugby glory.
The Chiefs have been sensational this season, and deserve to carry the ‘favourites’ tag into this year’s playoffs.
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Led by the likes of Weber, Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson, the Chiefs claimed the minor premiership – winning all but one game during the regular season.
But they have a chance to right the wrongs of that sole defeat this weekend, when they host the Queensland Reds in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Reds shocked the rugby world with a win in New Plymouth last month, and they’ll be hoping that that famous victory haunts the minor premiers heading into a blockbuster quarter-final.
“It definitely gives you that knot in your gut,” he added. “The table doesn’t really matter.
“Any team, on their day, can beat you. They proved that last time.
“We’ve got a lot to prove.”
The Chiefs host the Reds at FMG Stadium at 4.35pm NZST on Saturday in a highly anticipated Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final.
