Following the worst season in the history of the Blues franchise new coach John Kirwan has rung the changes, discarding five-eighths Michael Hobbs and Gareth Anscombe, and signing Counties-Manukau’s Baden Kerr to his young squad.
After a season for the Steelers where his pin-point kicking helped steer them to victory in the ITM Cup Championship, earning promotion to the Premiership for 2013. the 23-year old was destined for Super Rugby, with Kirwan being quick to snap him up.
Although a member of the Chiefs Development squad in 2012 Kerr is yet to experience the rigours of the Super XV, but his assured performance for Counties this year, which saw him finish third on the overall points-scorers table, suggests he is more than capable of mixing it with those at the highest level.
Having come through the Counties-Manukau system the robust playmaker, who can also cover fullback, will join Bay of Plenty journeyman Chris Noakes as the only first-fives at the Blues, suggesting Kerr may get plenty of game time in his first year of Super Rugby.