Anthony Boric had the perfect ending to a frustrating and at times distracting week.
The Harbour captain has been involved in protracted contract negotiations that are nearing an end - but became tense at times.
Boric has always made it clear he wants to stay with Harbour and will do
so when the fine details of his contract extension are tidied up this week. Or at least they should be tidied up.
"It has been distracting," he said after Harbour's 28-7 demolition of Bay of Plenty. "The goal has always been to stay here."
To be out on the paddock, with nothing more than rugby to think about, was a massive relief for the All Black lock.
Boric says he doesn't know whether he'll be called up to tour Europe and Japan at the end of the month. But he believes he has done all he can, helped no end by Harbour producing their best performance of the season. Having raced to a 25-0 lead at the break, there was a bit of steel shown by the home side in ensuring they didn't throw it all away.
"That was something we talked about at halftime," said Boric. "We didn't want to fall asleep. We knew they would come back at us and to only concede one try was pleasing."
Just as pleasing was the performance of Harbour lock James King, whose mobility was scarcely believable. The 22-year-old looks exactly the sort of lock the All Blacks are trying to build and promote.
His work in the air was first class and he has the pace and athleticism to be the next Ali Williams. If the Blues bypass him, somebody should pick him up in the draft - he's a raw-boned colt waiting to be shaped into something memorable.
