Less than two months out from the Chiefs’ opening match of Super Rugby Pacific 2023, star halfback Brad Weber has revealed the two players to watch across the season.
Despite making the semi-finals of the 2022 edition last year, the Hamiltonians have struggled to produce consistent performances since their last title win in 2013 and will hope to make 2023 their year.
The return of Damian McKenzie and the leadership group of Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Anton Lienert-Brown will boost their chances, however, it is two young players who have caught Weber’s eye the most as they prepare for the upcoming competition.
“The good thing for us is that we don’t have a lot of turnover this year, there’s a lot of guys (staying on),” Weber told SENZ Breakfast.
“I think we’ve only lost maybe one or two so a lot of continuity which is good but I certainly am excited by our two backup halfbacks.
“Cortez and Xavier, I think, for the future are going to be two All Black calibre players that (are) already outstanding at the moment.
“They certainly keep me on my toes, I’ve got to keep performing – I don’t have my spot locked in – but certainly for the future those two are going to be seriously good I think.”
Ratima was selected in the All Blacks XV squad that toured the northern hemisphere while Roe impressed for both the Chiefs and Waikato in 2022.
The Chiefs will begin their 2023 campaign on February 24 when they take on the current title-holder Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium.