The Perth Super 14 franchise received its first public knockback on Thursday when in-form fullback Peter Hewat rejected a lucrative offer in favour of re-signing with New South Wales (NSW).
Perth have snared two high-profile Wallabies this week in NSW hooker Brendan Cannon and Queensland lock Nathan Sharpe, forcing Australia’s existing Super 12 sides to step up efforts to retain their top talent.
Hewat, who has been in sizzling form this season standing in for the injured Mat Rogers, said the quality of his NSW teammates was a crucial factor in his decision to sign on for another three years.
”I’m playing in the back three with two of the best players in the world in Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers but nothing beats the quality of our forward pack, which allows us to do our work at the back,” he said.
NSW coach Ewen McKenzie, who was furious about Cannon being poached, was jubilant Hewat had rejected the overtures from Western Australia.
”They had a good shot at him but we’re very happy to announce that Peter Hewat will remain a Waratah for some time to come,” he said.
”We saw something special in Peter when we signed him last year and to his credit he’s stepped up a level to become an important part of the Waratahs.”
Hewat, a virtual unknown at the beginning of the season, last month bettered former Waratah Matt Burke’s record Super 12 match haul, scoring 34 points against South Africa’s Northern Bulls with three tries, two conversions and five penalty goals.
He will move to the wing for the Waratahs’ game against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday to make way for Rogers at fullback.
Justin Harrison returns to the NSW second row after his three-week suspension for racial abuse. — Sapa-AFP