Jordan Hendrikse has opened up on his decision to join the Sharks next season and his desire to leave the Lions with some silverware. DYLAN JACK reports.
Hendrikse’s heavily speculated future was finally confirmed last week when the Sharks announced that the young flyhalf would be moving to Durban next season.
While the 21-year-old has never been one for paying attention to the back pages, he told SARugbymag.co.za that it is a relief that he can now turn his full focus to ending his Lions career on a high.
“There was lots of speculation going on, it felt like for the last two years. I’m glad everything has been sorted. It’s a done deal,” Hendrikse told SARugbymag.co.za.
“My focus is still where I am now, to leave my jersey in a better place and take the Lions forward. When my journey at the Sharks starts, whether that’s later this year or whenever I get to leave the Lions, I look forward to that.
“I’m just glad everything’s sorted, so there’s no more questions about that. I can focus on what I have to do now.”
By joining the Sharks, Hendrikse will bring an end to his four-year stay with the Lions, where he earned his professional debut as a teenager back in 2021.
While the Sharks are currently rooted to the bottom of the table, John Plumtree and Neil Powell are targeting a squad overhaul for next season, which Hendrikse is a part of.
“I wanted to change my environment,” Hendrikse explained. “Getting a feel for different challenges and embracing a different style, especially with the coaches they have at the Sharks, the style they want to play there and the culture.
“The players they have there, so many Springboks at the Sharks, you can learn from them. Before the alignment camp was announced, I saw it as an opportunity to learn from those players and hopefully get seen.
“It’s also about going back to a familiar space. I was in Durban for five years during high school, so it’s something familiar that I look forward to, because I know a lot of people there. I just needed a bit of a challenge and change in my career, environment and space.
“It’s the next chapter in my life,” Hendrikse added. “The Lions gave me a great opportunity at a young age to show who I am and express myself. I am forever grateful for the opportunities and backing that I got from the coaching staff. But every player needs to find their feet somewhere and for me that’s starting a chapter somewhere else.”
Hendrikse’s focus remains on leaving the Lions on a high and he is confident that they can not only push for a home playoff, but for their first major title.
“Two seasons ago we were in the same place that the Sharks are. We had a group of new coaches come in. They had a new style that they wanted to build. It took us two seasons to get it right. In this third season, we’ve been gelling well. Our combinations have settled and are understanding each other.
“The biggest thing for us now is consistency, especially at home. Last season we were good at home, but this season we’ve struggled a bit. If we can win our next four or five home games, that should put us in a comfortable position to make the playoffs.
“It’s about building on our performances, week-in, week-out. We still have these dips in our game where we lack a bit of focus, whether that’s discipline or errors. Good teams will capitalise on that. It’s about being consistent and not having those dips. If we control that, that should allow us the opportunity to make the playoffs.
“Our away record is quite good as well. The games that we’ve lost have only been by one or two points. I think we are way better than how we started the season [losing three games in a row]. We’ve grown a lot as a team and individually as players.
“The boys are excited. Last year we were so close to making playoffs, we were three points behind the Sharks. This season, we are aiming for top four and hopefully going on to win the URC. We’ve been building in season one and two, now season three is about winning this.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Hendrikse: I wanted a new chapter appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
