The Last Word: Have a little faith

Sports reporters cop plenty of flak for (allegedly) being negative, critical, unbalanced and occasionally nasty.

I've given up defending what we do, having learned it is impossible to please everyone and the best course of action is simply letting readers, players or coaches make their point and then moving on with life.

See, here's the thing with this job: It's not about being negative.

Nor is it about being positive.

It's about trying to call it as we see it.

No fear, no favour.

But I'll break the cardinal rule this one time and take a deliberately upbeat approach to assessing the Highlanders' chances in the Super 14.

Here goes.

I believe the Highlanders will be fun to watch this year.

I believe Jimmy Cowan has answered his critics (including me) and has matured into a fine, responsible leader.

I believe the Highlanders have assembled the best locking squadron in the competition.

I believe Adam Thomson will start to be included in discussions about Otago loose forward greats if he produces another season like the last two.

I believe Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Fetu'u Vainikolo and James Paterson comprise the most exciting group of outside backs the Highlanders have had in 10 years.

I believe Josh Bekhuis and Jayden Hayward will have break-out seasons.

I believe Glenn Moore knows what he's doing.

I believe the Highlanders will catch a whiff of the semifinals this year.

And I believe tonight will finish 26-20.

To the good guys.

 

Return of the king
It was probably only a matter of time before Laurie Mains made some sort of return to Otago rugby.

The great coach and former All Black has signalled his intention to stand for the Otago Rugby Football Union board later this month.

Mains gave the same reason everybody offers when they run for public office or a major sports administration role - "I think I've got something to offer" - but this is obviously no ordinary candidate.

Mains is arguably the most polarising figure in the history of Otago rugby.

I know plenty of people who are fiercely loyal to the man, and it would be a surprise if he does not get enough votes to join a radically overhauled board.

But there are also plenty who remember the meltdown of 2003, when Mains was the coach of a Highlanders team that disintegrated following a player mutiny and a breakdown in relations between Mains and then-chief executive John Hornbrook, and who feel he can be a destructive influence.

It is indisputable that Mains knows rugby, is passionate about Otago and doesn't suffer fools.

What will be fascinating now is how he operates in a board situation, and what he can do to help a union that is in a near-permanent state of suffering.

 

Propping up the game
It is good to see a few prominent voices questioning the theory that various rugby unions will have to help Carl Hayman into a farm to encourage the great prop to come home.

Hayman is a quality man and I imagine he is coming back for the right reasons.