I understand what Hammet is trying to achieve, I think, but there are serious questions when hot talent who also form cultural icons need to be cut loose. The very best leaders manage to somehow rein in the loose cannons and shape them into lethal weapons. Take a look at what the 3 wise men achieved with Nonu in the black uniform.
Perhaps for Ma'a it is a blessing in disguise. Sometimes a forced shake-up that seems terrible at the time changes the landscape and opens one's eyes to new beginnings. Ma'a is another who has squeezed out a blessing from the NZRU to take a working holiday up north, and I really think he's gonna slot in well within the Blues environment, which despite all the changes will carry on as a successful juggernaut next year. I'm glad he's not gone to the Chiefs, for both their sakes, as I don't think he would have been the right addition for them.
But what a loss for the Canes. This is a franchise which has under-performed when viewed in the entirety of the Super Rugby era. Their inability to achieve consistency, nor being able to squash teams at the business end of the season has been exposed year upon year. Perhaps it is this that Mr Hammet is attempting to address. Only time will give us that answer.
One thing is for sure, and that is success breeds from far deeper than the coach. The management team and support staff must all believe and work toward the same goals and set a cultural environment of success. Take a look at our old nemesis the Crusaders. Ten straight times in the semi's or better. We all tend to believe that it was the influence of Robbie Deans, and while I don't deny the man is a world class coach, take a look at what Wayne Smith achieved before and Blackadder is achieving now. It's the same old story, pretty clearly showing that the environment is much bigger than the individual.
Can the Hurricane's achieve the same? Personally I think it'll fall short and the 'Canes will be left languishing mid table for more years to come.
However Pat Lam and the Blues have made huge progress, culminating this year by achieving a great balance in players on the park and a team approach that has given much greater consistency. I said it after their first game against the Crusaders, and here we find them heading into a semi against the Reds - one which I give them a very real chance of winning.
It's just unfortunate that once again half his squad is deserting after the RWC, so it's going to be difficult to carry these gains through into 2012. The same thing happened a few years back where a totally dominant NPC campaign by Auckland was followed by a nothing season - after half the team absconded.
This time the Blues look to be consistently attracting the right talent, so maybe Lam and the crew will be able to maintain the momentum. I'll be sure to have bum on seat at the park to see how the excitement machine turns it on!