RAZOR-SHARP

Something of a schoolboy star, Etene Nanai-Seturo has gradually developed into a very good professional and brings lightning feet and finishing power to the Chiefs, writes Campbell Burnes.

There’s a touch of ‘The Flash’ about Etene Nanai-Seturo.

Lelia Masaga had a bigger smile, though not a bigger sidestep, but he was full of X-factor and flair, crossing for 32 tries from 91 games for the Chiefs franchise, playing a prominent role in their two Super Rugby titles in 2012-13.

Nanai-Seturo has also brought a cutting edge to the Chiefs’ outside backs since 2019 as he eyes up the 50-game milestone. He would give a lot to emulate Masaga as a Super Rugby champion come June, the Chiefs desperate to go one better after the agony of 2023 when they were the best team in the comp until the final.

In the opening two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific 2024, Nanai-Seturo looked as sharp as the proverbial tack. With 2023 All Black Emoni Narawa still sidelined, Nanai-Seturo has combined sweetly with Shaun Stevenson and Liam Coombes-Fabling to form a potent Chiefs’ back three. He scored two tries and peeled off two 50-22s as the Chiefs edged the Crusaders and dispatched the Brumbies before coming a cropper against the Reds, a game Nanai-Seturo missed with a tight calf.

His form has signalled the clear progress he has made since he committed to 15s after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, having appeared in 13 tournaments for the All Blacks Sevens.

Selection on the wing for the All Blacks XV last year showed he was on the national radar and not a million miles away from his ultimate goal, despite the plethora of outside backs.

When Rugby News spoke with Nanai-Seturo, he was sitting on 47 games for the Chiefs, so it figures that he will, touch wood, hit the half century this month. Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Bradley Slater have already raised the milestone this season, while Tupou Vaa’i and Ollie Norris are next in line.

“Obviously that will be a big accomplishment for myself and my family. Fiftieth games are always special for the boys and their families. I’m looking forward to it, even though I take things game by game,” says the 24-year-old.

The Chiefs scored 27 tries in the outside backs, five of them to Nanai-Seturo, in 2023. The brilliant Stevenson ran in 12 and Narawa eight. They are a dangerous proposition on the counter-attack and that’s before you have even factored in the roving No 10 Damian McKenzie and the dangers he poses to defensive systems. It’s about playing heads-up rugby and trusting the man next to you.

“It’s good that when the forwards do the job up front, it gives us backs the chance to express ourselves out wide. When we have the likes of Shooter, Coombesy and Emoni at the back, they are all good with ball in hand and can kick as well, it gives us options,” he says.

“On the counter-attack, that’s the best thing for the open winger to get back as fast as he can to give options to the fullback or whoever’s at the back, help them out.”

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