Mako thrives among big fish

COLIN SMITH/Nelson Mail

AWESOME: Quentin MacDonald says training with the Crusaders is one of the best environments he's been involved in.

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Quentin MacDonald was one of the Tasman Makos' more conspicuous players during last year's Air New Zealand Cup rugby campaign.

And there's a good chance that, with all the preseason work the Crusaders coaching staff have been pumping into him, the dynamic 21-year-old hooker will be every bit as effective again this domestic season.

While disappointed not to secure a full Super 14 contract, MacDonald is part of the Crusaders' wider training group and has immersed himself in the Crusaders' pre-season programme. And the 1.81m, 102kg rake is loving his involvement with the most successful franchise in Super rugby history.

"It's awesome," said MacDonald, who'll start off the reserves bench for tonight's pre-season clash with the Blues in Motueka.

"It's probably one of the best environments I've been involved in. I'm loving every minute of it and I'm learning all the time. It's just good to get a few opportunities in a few pre-season games, so it's good."

He played 40 minutes of last weekend's loss to the Reds in Brisbane and appreciated the significant step up from Air NZ Cup to Super 14 rugby.

"Definitely the pace was quite unreal at times. I've never played in Aussie, so it was really hot – the lungs were burning a bit. It was really physical and fast, it was good."

The good news for Tasman is that, despite signing with the Canterbury union last year, MacDonald has recommitted to Tasman for the coming season. The uncertainty surrounding Tasman's future last year forced his hand early in the piece, but he sensibly had an exit clause included in his contract to allow him to rejoin Tasman.

"I was just trying to cover myself in case Tasman went and at that stage, they were almost definite [to be relegated]. But you can never write the Makos off; they came back again. Along the way I saw myself playing for Tasman again, so it just worked out."

Now, he's among a core of key players to have signed on with the union. They include All Blacks Chris Jack and Ben Franks, Jonathan Poff and MacDonald's Crusaders' wider training group team-mates, Joe Wheeler and Hamish Cochrane.

With halfback Kahn Fotuali'i moving to Hawke's Bay, Tasman have signed Canterbury's Steve Alfeld to replace him, along with James Marshall, Robbie Malneek and Kade Poki.

MacDonald's relieved that there is now some certainty surrounding Tasman's future.

"The last couple of seasons I've been involved [with Tasman], everyone's been saying we're on the knife edge, so it'll be good to have a bit of clarity and to look forward to the season."

He enjoyed his promotion to Tasman's starting hooker last year, his performances typified by some powerful ball-carrying.

"It was good just to get a bit of game time. I got a few starts and finally just had a chance. I had nothing to lose so I just went all out, which was pretty much all I could do. I had a couple of good performances and just kept getting the starts, so I was pretty happy."

For now, he's content to learn as much as he can from the Crusaders' two first-choice hookers, All Black Corey Flynn and Ti'i Paulo. MacDonald said he couldn't ask for a better learning environment.

MacDonald's aware that he could be just one injury away from stepping up into the big time and with five Crusaders Development games scheduled for the training group, he's confident he'd be ready.

- © Fairfax NZ News