The Chiefs captain has just completed his 11th season of Super rugby and was struggling to come to grips with the fact that the season was still going in July when last year the season was over at the end of May.
"We're in July now, and, far out, we're still going in Super rugby," Muliaina said yesterday after completing a two-day training camp for All Blacks hopefuls not involved in the Blues and Crusaders teams contesting the Super 15 semifinals this weekend.
"There's no doubt it's been a long season," he said and conceded he felt jaded when the Chiefs' season came to a close.
"The New Zealand conference has just been hard yakka. You come up against guys and you're just bashing the crap out of each other for provincial pride - it's been really tough," said Muliaina, who made 101 Super rugby appearances in a career which included the transition from Super 12 to Super 14 in 2006.
The decision to prolong the season by expanding the competition to accommodate the introduction of the Melbourne Rebels and a new format has left him uncertain if it was in the best interests of the All Blacks.
"It is a World Cup year and you've tested out a new format. It might be a smart thing -- you don't know -- it is something different that you've got to contend with in a World Cup year.
"I think they guys are professional enough, and hopefully they are, to be able to come through it and play well."
Muliaina said he had recovered his energy after more than a week off and was looking forward to international rugby but he harboured doubts over the new Super 15 structure.
"I'd be interested to see how it pans out in the next couple of years," he said, adding future seasons would also include a three-week international window in June, further extending the season.
The 94-test All Black will join Japanese club NTT Docomo at the end of the season and he was making the most of his time with the national side while he still could.
"I thought about that a lot when I came here. You do savour those sort of moments knowing that it's not going to come around next year.
"It is nice to be back in the environment. You see the management, not just the coaches, but everyone that's involved and it's exciting, especially when you haven't done so well in Super rugby."
