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'Extremely grateful': World Rugby award nomination caps astounding season for All Blacks sensation Sititi
Stephen Foote • November 19th, 2024 2:31 pm
Photo: Photosport
The 2024 season has been a whirlwind for All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi.
Called into the Chiefs for the first time after impressing at NPC level for North Harbour, the Aucklander took Super Rugby Pacific by storm, becoming one of the driving forces in the team's run to the final.
That form earned him selection to Scott Robertson's first All Blacks squad - a promotion that drew widespread conjecture by those who thought Blues No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu had been more deserving.
But nine Tests into his international career, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone clinging to that opinion.
Thrown into a white-hot furnace against the Springboks in Cape Town for his debut start, the 22-year-old was completely unflappable, one of the best on the field for the New Zealanders in a sign of what was to come through the remainder of 2024.
He's since been undeniably one of the All Blacks' most impactful players, showcasing a brand of power, dexterity and skill rarely seen at his position.
On the back of his dominance in Europe, those performances have been recognised by the sport's global governing body with a nomination for World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year award.
Photo: Photosport
In Turin preparing for this weekend's finale against Italy, Sititi is currently surrounded by previous winners in Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, and Mark Tele'a - and it's been the latter who's quickly begun jovially applying the pressure to repeat his own feats from last year.
"He's been in my ear a little bit, but we'll see how we go," Sititi laughed.
One of four candidates alongside England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, South Africa's Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Ireland's Jamie Osbourne, Sititi admits he's still wrapping his around what's been the latest in a series of surreal firsts.
"I'm just extremely grateful," he said.
"It's been a big year, so just to have that acknowledgement is crazy.
"Sasha, Jamie, and Immanuel are quality players and to be on the same list is an honour and a privilege in itself."
Reflecting on a year that has included both his Super Rugby and Test debuts, Sititi - the son of Manu Samoa enforcer Simo Sititi - says the lessons related to the unique demands of Test rugby have come thick and fast - but there's one that has stood out.
"I think the big one is just being able to win moment after moment.
"One little error can cost you the game and if you're not fully present in that moment, the momentum of the game can switch just like that.
"So, it's about staying on and being present every moment."
Photo: Photosport
As his assigned "buddy" within the All Blacks camp, prop Tamaiti Williams has witnessed Sititi's rapid development at a closer range than most.
Even he's been staggered by the strides Siti has made in such a short space of time, something he puts down to his quietly mannered teammate's self-belief.
"One thing I notice is just you back yourself and his family back home as well," William explained.
"His confidence has just grown through the camp right from day one.
"We always tell each other just keep backing yourself and good things will happen there too."
Sititi is in line to become the fifth New Zealander to receive the award, which dates back to its inception in 2015, when Nehe Milner-Skudder scooped the silverware.
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But before those formalities comes ensuring the All Blacks head into their summer break on a high note against the Azzurri on Sunday, where they'll have a chance to wash away the bitter taste of last weekend's Parisian defeat.
"It felt like we were trending in the right direction and were making a lot of strides, but it just didn't click on the day and sometimes we'll just have those kinds of games.
"We'll take those learnings against a strong Italian side who will be up for this game as well.
Once he's back home, Sititi says it's simply a matter of rinse and repeat, looking to lift his game another notch in 2025.
"Got to nail that sort of rest period that we have and get my body right. Recharge the batteries a little bit, make sure I put my work in at the same time and come back to a tough Super season against quality opposition.
"I think it's just about trying to be my best consistently at a high level, and just being able to do it again."
