I want to apologies if this comes across as any way negative: I am thrilled we have Vaea, he's an awesome prospect and it's a real sign of our ambition - he was right up there on my dream list of players. I did think I would comment on here as I'm also a Canes fan and have followed them for a few years now and seen what has gone on with Vaea in Wellington.
I do agree with a lot of what Hamish Bidwell says - I think he's very honest and it summarise a lot about what Canes' fans feel about Vaea and his departure.
He did play lock for the Canes' title winning season - partly because the first choice backrow then was Shields, Savea, Vito; partly because that's where Canes were weakest in depth (Mark Abbot and Blade Thompson were the main cover that if I remember) and partly because he is a very decent lock.
The issues is that he hasn't consistently shown that he can do the tight work that is often required: (as Hamish says) carrying in traffic, hitting rucks and making tackles close to the fringes. For most teams, this kind of bread and butter work falls to the locks, Will Rowlands is an excellent example here, he always had high numbers of carries, usually at first or second receiver and always worked hard disrupting the breakdown (albeit this did mean he had a high penalty count). Vaea works best in the outside channels: in a 1-3-3-1, he prefers to be a 1 and that is usually a back-row or hooker (for the Canes, Dane Coles is almost a winger). There was a feeling among some fans that Vaea wasn't always playing for the team and committed to what the coaches wanted and would shirk some of his 'grunt' work. For the ABs he was used as a loose forward - very much Kaino size and shape and ability at the lineout - and he looked really good at 6 for them, but at the Canes they wanted their 6 to be like Brad Shields and so when Brad left for us and Vaea didn't play like Brad, fans, pundits and coaches if his lack of selection is anything to go by got frustrated.
BUT he isn't at the Canes now, he's with us. We have a backrow who will graft - he was at his best alongside Shields - our hookers are happier in the tight and Gaskell and Stooke are both (gifted and skilful) workhorses. I think that he will get some time at 4 while we wait for Lauchbury to return but I would imagine that he will start off coming off the bench for a while to get used to the different physicality and style in the NH and as he hasn't had a great deal of game-time recently. Lee has alluded to us still looking for another back-up lock so I'm not sure Fifita is being looked at as an out and out lock but more for his versatility.
Bitterness is the wrong word, but there is perhaps a frustration in NZ and the Canes in particular that a player with his physique and skillset didn't go on to nail down a AB place hence some of the underwhelming comments for such a gifted player. I think a change of location, having Canes teammates and Malakai, probably linking in with Vailanu even though he's left the club and our style of play will suit him. He may take a while to come good and I think we'll have to expect a bit of rustiness at first but I'm really happy he's here.