He may have been named World Breakthrough Player of the Year right now but All Blacks sensation Rieko Ioane says his long-term future remains at centre.
“Thirteen’s probably the long-term goal but for now, if I play 11, I play 11 and I’m pretty comfortable playing there,” he told AAP.
I’ll probably start to pick up playing centre a bit next year but for now I’m just happy to get on the field where I can.”
Ioane played seven games at centre for the Blues this year but he knows he still has a lot to learn before he makes a full-time switch.
And he has a pretty handy mentor in teammate Sonny Bill Williams.
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“If I play 13, I’ll just look to keep developing my game at centre,” Ioane said.
“With the likes of Sonny and George Moala in the midfield at the Blues, they’ll be huge influences in helping me do so.”