Superstar in the making

Luke McAlister in training. Herald picture / Brett Phibbs

Luke McAlister is straight on the defensive when he's asked if he's the new Carlos Spencer.

He's tetchy about the comparison for a couple of reasons. There's the fact that no young wannabe wants to start their career in the shadow of a legend and carry such heavy expectation.

Then there's the fact that maybe there was a bit of tension between McAlister and Spencer last season. There wasn't enough room for two players of their ilk.

But, with Spencer dancing in the English mud, the Blues need McAlister to be their creative spark this season and lead a backline that too regularly fluctuates from magic to tragic.

Comparisons with Spencer will be inevitable. McAlister is loaded with talent. He can sway his hips and step through thunderous tackles.

He does a nice line in dinky chips and grubbers and, by the end of the last Super 12 season, was showing signs of being able to read the game more astutely.

The Super 14 needs a creative genius who pulls off the outrageous. It has the controlled, strategic brilliance of Daniel Carter. There is the technical mastery of Richie McCaw and the running power of Brian Habana and Joe Rokocoko.

But there is no one dabbling in the unpredictable. Stephen Larkham no longer ghosts through holes the way he once did. Mat Rogers has only flashes of magic and Chris Latham doesn't get enough support at the Reds to give his skills the impact they deserve.

The onus, then, falls on McAlister to make himself the undisputed star of 2006. The Blues coaches David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt haven't quite couched their expectation in such stark terms.

"David has given us a leadership role and we all have to add to the whole thing," said McAlister. "We have guys like George Pisi who is really young and someone like Rua Tipoki who is a bit older and we are all being encouraged to speak up"

But it is apparent by the manoeuvring of the last 12 months that McAlister is the man Nucifora wants to see running the show.

As Spencer revealed to the Herald on Sunday in November, he felt he was forced out of the franchise. Spencer said he and Schmidt were not on the same wavelength.

There seemed to be an understanding at the Blues that it would be best for Spencer to move on and make way for McAlister as he was willing to buy into the vision of the new coaching team.

With the dust now settled, the real interest is whether McAlister, still only 22, is used at first five-eighths or one berth further out.

He's comfortable in both and is likely to see game time in both. "I am not too sure where I will play. I will wait and see. I have been playing a mixture of 10 and 12 in training. I think they are very different. 10 is a huge role where you drive the whole team and 12 is more about helping out. I'll be happy to play either."

His likely dual role at the Blues comes with the added advantage of potentially enhancing rather than limiting his test chances.

When you start looking closely at how the All Black coaches will squeeze their squad down to 30 for next year's World Cup, you can see why they would love to have someone who is a genuine first-five with the ability to play at 12.

Whatever Graham Henry says publicly, privately he surely can't be convinced that Aaron Mauger is equipped to start a test at first-five. Nor would he be certain about fielding Mauger and Conrad Smith as midfield partners. That combination lacks a physical presence and defensive edge.

McAlister, on the other hand, looked the goods when he started at 10 in a few tests last year. He brought a composure and vision that Mauger lacked. He also kicked his goals.

His absence, through injury, from the end-of-season tour was a blow. "It is just the way the cookie crumbled," said McAlister of his ill-fortune. "I struck an injury and had to get over it. It was pretty gutting but I've had my fair share of setbacks and know how to cope with them."

He at least has the consolation of knowing that he didn't suffer the old cliche of out of sight, out of mind.

While his replacement Nick Evans was earning rave reviews for his performances in Dublin and Edinburgh, Henry frequently referred to the injured McAlister back in Auckland.

It was a pointed reminder that the All Black coaches have already seen enough from McAlister to believe he is a player that they will continue to invest in.

McAlister, though, already has the maturity to realise that he can't fall into the trap of thinking too far ahead. The best way to enhance his test prospects is to steer the Blues into the playoffs.

For the last two years the Blues have bumbled from one under-performance to the next.

Not since 2003 have they fulfilled their potential. They won their third title that year with Spencer at his impish best.

McAlister would dearly love for the good times to come back to Eden Park.

"I want to be able to play a big part this year. David [Nucifora] is pretty relaxed. We come to training and enjoy it which is always healthy. Obviously the main goal is to win the competition. The environment has been set to have a good mood in the team. Hopefully we can get off to to a good start against the Hurricanes on Friday."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY