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Chiefs reward breakthrough midfielder with new contract

Daniel Rona with the ball in hand for the Chiefs. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

With injuries sidelining their top midfield options, a promising start to the Chiefs’ 2023 season looked to be on the ropes, that was until Daniel Rona stepped up and showed out.

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All Blacks Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown have each been out injured for the Chiefs in 2023, the former having not touched the pitch at all while rehabbing an ACL injury suffered in last year’s Bledisloe Cup match. Add to that All Blacks XV standout Alex Nankivell’s absence and the midfield stocks looked to be running thin in Waikato.

Daniel Rona began 2023 as a concreter and was initially only brought into the Chiefs environment on a 30-day training contract, but on Friday revealed he has now put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

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“I think it will come out next week,” Rona told SENZ The Run Home. “I’m lucky enough to have signed on (with the Chiefs) for the next three years.

“I have always wanted to be a Chief and when they came to me and gave me the opportunity to sign on, I was keen as.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else so we just got it done.”

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The opportunity to start in the Chiefs’ No 13 jersey, usually reserved for 59-cap All Black Anton Lienert-Brown or soon-to-be Munster centre Alex Nankivell, was unexpected for Rona, but an opportunity the 23-year-old has certainly made the most of.

Initially, Rona’s Super Rugby quality came through in his defence, with subtle work on attack allowing the Chiefs’ stars to shine out wide. But, against the Highlanders he put more of his skillset on display, placing an incredible chip kick into the 22 where only Shaun Stevenson could get it for one of the try-assists of the season, before claiming two tries himself.

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“It definitely hasn’t been easy,” Rona said, reflecting on his Super Rugby journey. “It took me quite a few weeks to get used to the workload and the physicality. I’ve started to come right but I’m just loving being in (the thick) of it at the moment.

“I’m going to keep putting my best foot forward.”

The table-topping Chiefs opted to keep Rona in the starting lineup for Anton Lienert-Brown’s return, playing the All Black at inside centre while bringing Alex Nankivell off the bench against the Highlanders. Coach Clayton McMillan has since returned to his starting combination of Lienert-Brown and Nankivell.

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Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
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