The bustling midfielder is expected to announce tomorrow that he has committed for the remainder of his contract - which will see him play here until at least August next year (perhaps longer) - but the delay in doing so highlights the depth of issues the Blues still face despite having made wholesale changes to their coaching team.
The Herald on Sunday understands that Nonu was miffed with the cool reception he received from the Blues' administration after he arrived in Auckland earlier this year.
A World Cup hero and IRB Player of the Year nominee in 2011, Nonu was a massive signing for the franchise and yet he's believed to feel he was given minimal support to settle.
He was aware that down in Hamilton, the Chiefs worked overtime to ensure that Sonny Bill Williams was able to fit in to make an immediate impact.
Nonu is also thought to be disillusioned by the lack of direction for the franchise - not so much on the field now that John Kirwan and Graham Henry have been installed - but off it, where there remains a lack of conviction about the franchise's ability to talent scout and create the right high performance structure.
While Nonu is contracted until next year, he has a break clause that allows him to terminate the deal early. That's why he has also been fielding offshore offers, most notably from the Japanese club Ricoh, where he spent his sabbatical after the World Cup.
The offshore suitors aren't thought to have gained much traction as Nonu has been certain through this period - he has been mulling his future since the beginning of the Rugby Championship in mid-August and was supposed to have made his mind up by the end of September - that he still wants to be an All Black and play test football.
He is a critical part of the team and his bustling, direct running was vital for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. His partnership with Conrad Smith is the best midfield combination in world rugby and the All Blacks have few alternatives at No 12.
The 30-year-old knows he's not ready to walk away from the All Blacks and the last six weeks have been about trying to make sense of his options.
The ideal scenario - an offer to return to the Hurricanes - never materialised. The Highlanders made a bid, one with as many downsides as upsides, which pretty much left the Blues.
A meeting with Kirwan the day before the All Blacks flew to Argentina gave Nonu greater assurance of the plans for 2013, the style of rugby the Blues want to play and the type of culture the new man wants to create.
Kirwan laid it all out, explained to Nonu that he would be a central plank in the new, young side he was building and asked for a decision by this weekend, which has been pushed back until tomorrow.
"I'm preparing for both scenarios," says Kirwan. "We'd obviously love Ma'a to stay here because he's a world-class midfielder. But we haven't wanted to rush him. This is a decision he has to make for himself and his family."
Kirwan, engaging charismatic and brimming with ideas to improve the franchise, is aware that his mission to improve the perception of the Blues and make it a franchise that players around the country want to join, is substantial. Converting Nonu to a believer will be critical in not only winning games, but turning the franchise's whole culture.
Sensationally dumped by the Hurricanes in May last year, Nonu was left with only six weeks to sort out his post-2011 future as per the All Black coaches' wishes. The national panel wanted those involved in the World Cup to have confirmed their futures ahead of that tournament to prevent any distraction.
Nonu, emotionally rattled by his axing, signed with the Blues - mainly because he wanted to stay in New Zealand and they were the only choice.
His Japanese sabbatical, which saw him leave straight after the World Cup and return on the eve of the opening Super Rugby game, hindered his ability to settle.
To compound matters, the Blues endured their worst campaign in history with coach Pat Lam effectively dismissed by early May. Nonu's own form was poor - mainly as a result of fatigue and the lack of quality around him.
He ended the campaign unsure about his commitment to a franchise that faces an enormous number of challenges but, as is likely to be revealed today, he's prepared to give things another crack.
- By Gregor Paul of the Herald on Sunday
