By Ross McNaughton
Tana Umaga played his first home game for his adopted province Counties-Manukau tonight in a pre-season hit out against North Harbour.
Expectations are high that Tana can help turn the Steelers’ fortunes around.
Even on a miserable July night there was a definite buzz in Pukekohe as former All Black captain Tana Umaga made his hometown debut.
“He’s a drawcard whether he’s playing or whether he’s just in the coaches’ box, but he’s certainly drawing people out and I think generally there’s just a good feeling in the community that this might be a different year,” coach Milton Haig says.
Umaga was largely restricted to defensive work as wet conditions put a damper on running rugby – although he didn't seem to mind.
“Last week I was gasping a bit, but this week, again, the weather helped out a bit, you know, slowed the game down to my pace which I enjoyed,” he says.
Despite outscoring north harbour three tries to one, the Steelers went down 22-21.
While Umaga is relishing his role as player and assistant coach at Counties, he's realistic about the challenge of turning around a team that finished dead last in the 2009 ITM Cup.
“We’ve got a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of talent, and I think we are moving forward, from all accounts, but again, it all comes down to results on the field and that’s where we’ll be judged and that’s where I’ll be judged.”
The struggling Steelers are a world away from Umaga's last club, Toulon, both geographically and financially.
“Everyone is battling, I think, in this ITM Cup, all the provincial unions for sponsorship money, and we’re no different. We’re probably on a smaller scale than most but we’ve just got to adapt and roll with it and work harder, and I’m looking forward to that,” he says.
Counties play their first game of the season against Otago in 10 days time, and hopefully Tana's touch can get them playing champagne rugby again.
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