The Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett concedes the team's horror year on and off the field likely contributed to Hosea Gear's decision to leave the Wellington-based Super Rugby franchise for the Highlanders.
The dumped All Black winger has signed a one-year deal to play for Jamie Joseph's southerners as well as signing with the NZRU until the end of 2013.
The 27-year-old's connection with former Wellington provincial coach Joseph and the player exodus from the Hurricanes were partly responsible for the Gisborne product's defection to the deep south, but Hammett admits the turmoil during this year's season was probably the main factor behind Gear's decision to leave.
