Patrick Tuipulotu, a monster of a man at nearly 2m tall and more than 120kg, has turned down several overseas offers to stay at the Blues for another year at least, but it's his appreciation of exactly where his game is at which should please the team's supporters as much as his contract extension.
The lock's physical gifts are obvious, and so mostly is his athleticism, and sometimes his attitude, and it's the latter which is perhaps his greatest area of potential growth because when he sets his mind to matters on the pitch he can be devastating.
It was his impact after 30 minutes which helped turn the game in the Blues' favour when he came on against the Highlanders at Eden Park. The previously creaking scrum received a significant power boost, and his carries in the second half – and try in the final 10 minutes – were a testament to his desire to have a defining influence on the game.
There almost seemed to be a simmering anger in Tuipulotu during his team's 33-26 win. Perhaps it was because the 26-year-old, who has played 21 tests for the All Blacks, was named on the reserves bench behind Josh Goodhue and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti rather than starting.
Either way, Tuipulotu should attempt to find this state of mind more often – "beast mode" as Crusaders loose forward Jordan Taufua calls it - because he's a different player when he does.
