Sione Lauaki a happy Chief after shaking off the Blues

It seemed barely believable that by the end of 2004 Sione Lauaki was judged a waste of quite considerable space. Clearly overweight and disinterested, Lauaki was failing to make an impact in Auckland's struggling side.

There was a sense of outrage that earlier in the year he'd tricked everyone into believing he was an All Black in waiting. Just the sort of ball-carrying, destructive force needed on the blindside of the scrum.

Devastating for the Chiefs, even better for the Pacific Islanders and then awful when he played for Auckland. It just didn't stack up. Did he lose form in the NPC or find it in a major way during the Super 12 and Pacific Island tests?

We'll know for sure in a few months when the Chiefs are into their work. The conclusion could be reached fairly safely right now, though, that the aberration on the form graph was at the tail end of last year.

The Auckland environment was simply not right for the Tongan-born Lauaki. Self-confidence is the fuel which drives him. An indestructible frame, but a frail psyche.

Playing for Auckland there was almost nothing in the tank. He'd always been marginalised at the province, rarely winning a start in three years. That didn't really change last year, even though he began the NPC campaign as an international superstar. His mental well-being declined further as Auckland descended into shambles.

It was all so different at the Chiefs. He was surrounded by real leaders - Jono Gibbes, Tom Willis, Byron Kelleher - part of a team that believed in itself and was growing in confidence. He was also sharing a Hamilton flat with Sitiveni Sivivatu. The two became thick as thieves, inspiring each other.

Now that Lauaki is back with the Chiefs, the definition in his upper body has returned and the smile is back. Coach Ian Foster has been impressed with the way he has launched himself into pre-season and reckons with a few games under his belt, the 23-year-old will again be leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, provided the ankle injury sustained against the Brumbies on Friday night does not keep him sidelined.

"He's working really hard but with two or three games under his belt he'll really push on. He is running well and his attitude and commitment have been outstanding. He's a guy who generally winds into the season," says Foster.

"He's got a big presence among the boys and carries respect from his team-mates. They enjoy his company. He's worked really hard for that."

Hard work alone, however, will not propel Lauaki back into the All Black frame. Even in his finest moment last year - when he had the All Blacks in an awful flap at Albany while playing for the Pacific Islanders - he excelled through brute force alone.

His game is explosive but lacks finesse. He was also guilty of looking for colossal hits at the expense of making conventional tackles.

Foster has no doubt that the rough edges will be smoothed off.

"He has just got to keep learning. He's got amazing physical attributes and skills but people seem to forget that he came into Super 12 last year after playing in the NPC purely as a 20-minute impact player.

"He's got a lot of work to do and he's doing it and he's going to become a very good footballer."

Just how good he will become is a source of considerable fascination. Lauaki is 110kg, yet he can canter like a man half his size. He is almost unstoppable from 10 metres and is blessed with the soft hands golfers would die for.

John Boe, the Pacific Islanders coach who arguably got the best out of Lauaki last season, doesn't even pause to think when asked if his protege could grace the All Black jersey.

"He is a forward who is guaranteed to get other forwards going forward. With ball in hand he is all but unstoppable - we don't have a lot of those players, although Keven Mealamu gets them going on occasion. Sione at his best does that.

"He's just as good at blindside as he is at No 8. It really depends on who he is playing with. He's a huge tackler and I do think Sione can go on to the next level with the All Blacks."


- Herald on Sunday