by Paul Cook - In an encouraging reversal of the current trend, rampaging All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu has resisted the overtures from Europe's powerhouses to remain in New Zealand and in Super Rugby with a return to his former side, the Auckland based Blues. Capped 85 times by his country, Nonu had enjoyed a less than stellar first year with the misfiring Highlanders in 2013 and with negotiations for a contract extension down in the South island at an impasse, he decided to look elsewhere. However, having burnt his bridges with coach Mark Hammett when he left the Hurricanes and then reneging on a handshake deal with the then incoming Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan to join the Highlanders, it seemed there was little option but to head overseas. A highly coveted player in Europe, Nonu was understandably on the radar of a host of the N