The Highlanders have been very up and down in 2023 but one of the shining lights has come from an unexpected star.
Everyone expected their loose forwards to be decent. That tends to be the case when you have a rugged All Black (Shannon Frizell), an exceptional openside flanker with real skill and mana (Billy Harmon) and the breakout star of 2022 at No 8 (Marino Mikaele-Tu’u).
Few were tipping Renton to be the player of the season.
The all-action No 8 has simply been superb since the unlucky Mikaele-Tu’u got injured three minutes into the season, and acknowledged he was having his best year in rugby.
"I think it’s probably fair to say that. For sure.
"I’ve had an opportunity to string a couple of games together, and although we’re not winning, I feel all right and I’m enjoying the challenge and the pressure."
Mikaele-Tu’u is fit again, and add in the rise of youngster Sean Withy, the promising debut of Nikora Broughton and the veteran smarts of James Lentjes, and you can appreciate the Highlanders coaches do not have an easy task picking three loosies each week.
Renton, who turns 27 next week, has previously escaped the limelight a little but he has never had a problem finding the internal drive to succeed.
"When I first came down as injury cover in 2021, only on a two-week contract, Tony Brown said to me he would pick the best guy out there, and to just go out and compete.
"I’ve just tried to do that from day one. This season has been no different.
"I’ve done a lot of work off the field and it’s starting to transition on the field, and I’m really enjoying my footy."
Like his team-mates, Renton was not delighted to return from the Australian mini-tour with two losses.
It was "incredibly disappointing" to fail to win in either Perth or Sydney, but the Highlanders players were staying focused and owning their mistakes.
"I think that’s up to the culture of the team through Derms [coach Clarke Dermody] and our leadership group and senior players.
"It’s ‘what are you doing wrong or what could you do better individually first before the team’ — and I think that’s been a real shift.
"I think it’s definitely an honest sort of corner to build on, so hopefully through that we can find individual and collective improvement and get those results we are after.
"Rugby’s interesting. Things can change pretty quickly.
"Confidence is also an interesting thing. I don’t know if you’re always confident going into battle — you’d like to think that you are — but we just need to follow the plan regardless, and hopefully build momentum."
The Highlanders do need some momentum after three straight losses.
That will not be easy to generate this week as they host the imperious Chiefs on Friday night.
"It’s a massive challenge for us, and I think it’s a challenge that traditionally the Highlanders have loved — that underdog tag, David v Goliath, comparing ourselves to the best of the best," Renton said.
"I think, not just as Highlanders, but the whole region loves that tough battle of going out and showing your heart and seeing what can be done."
Stopping whizzkid Damian McKenzie has to be the Highlanders’ No 1 aim.
The question of how to reduce the impact of the competition’s best player had "a million answers", Renton said.
"He’s in fantastic form. He’s a magician.
"Like anyone at first five, we need to put some pressure on his skill set and take his time away. Because with any amount of time, he can pull anything out of his bag of tricks."
Renton is uncertain about his future as he is off contract with both the Highlanders and Tasman after this year.
