Dumping catches Leota off guard

Johnny Leota admitted he was caught off guard when told he'd been cut from the Highlanders Super 14 squad for the first time in three seasons.

Coach Glenn Moore told Leota it was the hardest call he'd had to make.

Leota wasn't sure whether Moore was saying that to make him feel better.

"It's a bit gutting," Leota said. "I thought I would have made the Hurricanes or the Highlanders, but that's the way professional sport goes."

He said he was in a foul mood after receiving the bad tidings but his partner, Leana Barrett-Chase, had been supportive.

The explanation was that the coaches went for a 16-12 forwards-backs split to give the Highlanders more depth up front for their early trip to South Africa.

Manawatu coach Dave Rennie had expected Leota to be picked up by a franchise.

"It is tinged with disappointment for Johnny Leota. He's had a good year and has really grown in the leadership role.

"It is disappointing they [the Hurricanes] have gone with Jason Kawau when we've got an experienced local boy who has missed out."

Leota was stung when he heard that too, and that the Highlanders had gone with only one specialist second five-eighth.

While Leota is officially a loan Otago player, he remains contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union and to Manawatu for next season. "After next year, I'll probably look at heading overseas," he said.

A positive from the dumping is that he will stay closer to his daughter in Palmerston North and might play sevens and return to touch with the slick Dawgsouljahz team. Barrett-Chase doesn't join the Southern Steel netball team until March.

"I will keep training hard and wait to see if something comes up. It will make me stronger."

If he is wanted for a Super 14 wider training squad, he hopes it is the Hurricanes.

- © Fairfax NZ News