Seeds of success sown during losing run

The planks for Waikato's national championship title were laid last season.

Out of the pain of a frustrating campaign, which at one point included five straight defeats, came a defensive system to frustrate the best opponents, a cluster of rising talent, who had a taste last year and stepped up this time, and a core of seasoned pros to make sure coach Warren Gatland's plans were carried out.

If one Air New Zealand Cup game was particularly crucial this season, it was the third-round clash with Canterbury in August.

Waikato made a statement that night, en route to a 36-22 win, that they had the wherewithal to get the job done. Sure, there were performances perhaps superior in some respects against Wellington, then Otago in the semifinal, but the Canterbury win put a stake in the ground.

Best player? Several candidates. The obvious pair are young centre Richard Kahui, whose try in Saturday night's final was his eighth in the cup, leaving him top tryscorer for the season, and loose forward Liam Messam, who was frequently spectacular.

But others such as Jono Gibbes, unheralded props Nathan White and Craig West, halfbacks Brendon Leonard and Byron Kelleher, inside backs David Hill and Stephen Donald, often made telling contributions.

Two special mentions: Keith Robinson for the comeback of the season, showing what Waikato had been missing for the last couple of years; and captain Steven Bates, who didn't get the plaudits as often as some, but was the rock at the heart of things.

With the bulk of this year's squad to return next year, the future is bright.

Talk of dynasties is premature, but Gatland's stock is rising. Repeat the job next year and, despite Gatland's gaze too far into the future, his name will have to be in the post-World Cup All Blacks mix.