He’s gone from rookie to superstar in 12 months but Nehe Milner-Skudder says he needs to take his game to another level in 2016.
The winger was by far the most popular with fans and media alike at the New Zealand Super Rugby launch, a stark contrast from the same event in 2015, when the 25 year-old was largely a spectator.
“It was a bit different last year I think I was already tucking into a bit of lunch out the back and not doing all the interviews,” he said.
“That’s a challenge for me this year, I can’t really slip under the radar like I did last year.
“That makes it exciting me for me to just keep getting better, try to improve and change up the way I play.”
It was a dream year in 2015 for the Rugby League convert, first reaching the Super Rugby Final with the Hurricanes before being a crucial part of the World Cup winning All Blacks.
“I wouldn’t ever have picked how the year would have unfolded, to get to play so many games for the ‘Yellow and Black Swirl’ (Hurricanes) and then to get to put on the All Black jersey to go over to the World Cup,” he said.
“And then to come back as a World Champion, I would never have picked it in my wildest dreams.
“I still pinch myself to this day and (it) makes me excited for this coming year.”
The Super Rugby trophy evaded him though after the Hurricanes were pipped by the Highlanders in the final despite taking the competition by storm during the regular season.
“The boys took a few people by surprise last but we know that there’s the potential to make it to the final again,” he said.
“There’s a lot of quality teams (in the competition) so it’s hard to put one team up there but we’ll just take it week by week and keep working hard.”
The Hurricanes kick off their season in Canberra against the Brumbies in Round One on February 26.
