Speculation whether Fekitoa is coming or going

Malakai Fekitoa.
Malakai Fekitoa.
It is predictable as night follows day.

As expected as a Winston Peters media release emerging after the latest migration figures are revealed.

Yes, Malakai Fekitoa is off contract at the end of the year.

So that means clubs will come sniffing and when that happens the names of Toulon, Racing 92 and their ilk are never far away.

The world is awash with dodgy algorithms these days so perhaps this is another one.

Just key in the words ''All Black'' and ''off contract'' and in the mazy worlds of computers and trending, the story gets generated announcing some French club is hunting for an All Black.

French newspaper Midi Olympique carried a report yesterday suggesting Highlanders centre Fekitoa may be attracting interest from Toulon.

The report said a source told the newspaper the Highlanders centre had been offered a two-year contract with the French giants.

Fekitoa (25) was said to have met Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal last year when the All Blacks were in France.

This is bound to not be the last report or speculation about Fekitoa.

It is a tough choice for Fekitoa over his future and one where he has to balance the positives and negatives.

In 2014, he was the next big thing to come along in the All Blacks midfield.

But New Zealand Rugby is like any other form of entertainment - there is always the next big thing coming along.

So you have to make the most of the opportunity when you are the next big thing.

It was tough for Fekitoa as he had to start behind Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu for the first couple of years and then last year picked up a nasty injury against the Welsh, leaving the selection door open.

Fekitoa is part of a crowded selection puzzle in the All Black midfield with next big thing Jack Goodhue now coming into the picture.

He is on the outside looking in and that also means not only is the ego dented, but so is the wallet.

Everyone can talk about loyalty and waiting your turn, but money talks. Fekitoa could probably double his wages by shifting to France.

The only puzzle is whether Toulon really wants him. Toulon has got Nonu, who is a similar sort of player to Fekitoa.

But these clubs have deep pockets and massive squads. The clubs just tend to acquire players no matter how they fit into the overall team pattern and structure.

More worrying for the Highlanders is if Fekitoa departs, followed by Waisake Naholo - to the Chiefs - and assistant coach Scott McLeod - to the All Blacks - then the Highlanders will be minus some heavy artillery next year.

No-one is irreplaceable but fresh off the win over the British and Irish Lions, where Naholo was a star, Fekitoa was as powerful as ever, and McLeod stood in as head coach, there will be some big holes left in the Highlanders set-up.

Worrying times indeed.

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