Having re-signed with the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby until 2023, Dane Coles is torn about his mate TJ Perenara.
Hurricanes captain against the Chiefs on Friday in the injured Ardie Savea’s absence, Coles is closely following reports of Perenara’s dalliance with NRL club the Sydney Roosters.
And while he reckons it’s 50-50 as to whether the All Blacks halfback switches codes, or re-signs with the Hurricanes and NZR, Coles can’t hide his excitement at the thought of Perenara playing the 13-man code.
“Mate, huge. The guy is made for league, he’s tough, he’s fit, he’s skilful… as much as I’d love to see him back in rugby if it’s a six-month gig for the Roosters, I don’t know if many of those will come in your lifetime,” Coles said at Hurricanes HQ on Monday.
“I haven’t spoken to him, but it’s up to him and his family, but he’d be awesome. He’s real competitive, he’s got a bit of niggle in him so he’d definitely suit the league style.”
Asked his gut feeling on whether Perenara joins the Roosters after his current stint in Japan, Coles said: “I don’t know. Like me he’s got a young family, he’s a Porirua boy… I’m 50-50, I haven’t heard anything, no changing room chat.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed the club’s interest in Perenara as a potential hooker, and the Sydney Morning Herald reported the club was offering $140,000 for him to join them this season.
Coles continued: “Personally, because I’m passionate league fan, it’d be awesome to see him have a crack.
“But if you put your rugby hat on you don’t want to lose a guy like that to the game, especially for the Hurricanes and NZR. I’ve played a lot of rugby with TJ and you don’t get too many guys like that come around. I’d love to see him back here as well, so a dollar each way.”
Coach Jason Holland was optimistic about Perenara, saying he’d spoken briefly to last year’s co-captain and halfback who signed a one-year deal with Top League club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. Japan’s season is into the playoff phase and ends next month.
“Obviously TJ has got some interesting offers going on but I’m pretty sure he’s pretty keen to be an All Black and a Hurricane at the moment,” Holland said.
Asked whether Perenara’s management was using the Roosters’ offer as a bargaining chip with NZR, Holland said: “Who knows, I suppose it’s a tough one when you’re high profile and you’d be a good rugby union player and a good rugby league player, you’re always going to get interest.
“I don’t know if you have much choice as to whether teams come to you and have a crack at you.”
Coles, meanwhile, quipped the New Zealand Warriors would be the only NRL club he’d join as he spoke of the decision to play on until the 2023 World Cup and be a one-club man, having debuted for the Hurricanes in 2009.
He considered retirement, but had no offers from overseas and jumped when the Hurricanes approached him about re-signing at 34, having returned to some of his best form.
