SUPER 14 - Bronson's big break

By Sports Editor Tim Eves
This time last year Bronson Murray was hunkered down in the Hokianga planning his next pig hunting mission.
Now the Northland rugby prop is set to go to the other extreme.
He is looking for somewhere to park his four-wheel-drive pig hunting machine in Auckland so he can get to rugby trainings with the Blues Super 14 squad.
Murray was named in the Blues yesterday, completing a remarkable transformation from bit-part loosehead prop to first pick tighthead in the Northland Air NZ Cup team and now member of the Blues team.
He will join his Northland captain Justin Collins in the Blues with his provincial team mate Fetu Vainikolo drafted into the Highlanders (see page 12).
But it was Murray's unexpected elevation to the Super 14 professional ranks that suddenly thrust the man from Herekino into the national spotlight yesterday.
Pig hunting took a backseat to a succession of television interviews, a scrum of newspaper reporters and posing for photographs.
"I got a call to have my phone on yesterday from Cowboy (Northland coach Mark Anscombe) so that I would know either way whether I was in or out.
"But when the call came through, from Ant Strachan (Blues manager), I was just stoked. Mate, I was over the moon," Murray said.
"It has been five or six years hard work with the Northland team, a lot of extra hard work this year with my coaches and, obviously, somebody noticed me," he said.
Transforming himself from a specialist loosehead prop, a position he played when selected for the NZ Colts four years ago, to tighthead was the secret to his success.
It was a move he made only in the middle of the club season this year.
"I think that's what done it for me. I just can't wait for it to start now, the whole Super 14 thing.
"I was told not to tell anyone yesterday, just family, but by the time I put the phone down I think everyone north of Whangarei knew anyway.
"The family is stoked, I am stoked, I just want to get into it now."
Blues coach David Nucifora said Murray's development at tighthead had been one of the highlights of the Air NZ Cup provincial competition.
There are not many proficient tighthead props on the market, so Nucifora was quick to secure Murray for the Blues.
Murray was also being eyed up by the Chiefs and the Highlanders, who were keen to draft in some front row firepower.
"Making sure that we had the right balance in our propping department was important.
"Bronson Murray has played more than 50 games for Northland and deserves his opportunity," he said.