Lessons in teen’s turmoil
When lawyers eventually reach a settlement in the messy Etene NanaiSeturo case, let’s hope lessons are learned.
The first being 15-year-olds should not be signing five-year contracts, no matter how good they may be. Precisely because, at that age, they are still kids with largely insular views of the world and where it could potentially lead.
At 15, most would admit they had little grasp of who they were, let alone what path to take in life.
In a sporting context, NanaiSeturo highlights the folly of expecting adolescence-aged prospects to set their futures in stone.
Teenagers, until at least their last year at school, should be free to savour the enjoyment and friendship sport fosters before being influenced by an agent pushing in a particular direction. Keep the pressures of professionalism at bay as long as possible.
Younger athletes, especially those from a humble upbringing, are also far more vulnerable to manipulation.
Presented with a compelling, long-term offer that included plenty of zeros and other perks, it is understandable why Nanai-Seturo and his parents decided to sign with the Warriors.
The Warriors did only what they thought was best by attempting to secure a talented local player. This club, and the wider Auckland region, Nanai-Seturo over the past three years. Their angst is justified.
But is it really surprising a potentially poorly-advised teenager had a change of heart? Any parent would tell you this happens every day.
In the league space, often what is promised does not live up to the hype, with smoke and mirror tactics used by some rogue agents to lure impressionable youngsters across the Tasman with promises of fame. Many end up spat out the other side with minimal support.
Only 10 to 20 per cent of those involved in the junior competition progress to the NRL. There are also many cases of homesickness and consuming pressure leading to suicides.
In Australia, the likes of the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs regularly sign teenagers but give them the option of backing out in Year 13. Although they can’t then join a rival club, they can switch codes.
This appears a much better approach.
In such a competitive market, rugby is also guilty of approaching and signing teenagers too young.
Many of New Zealand’s first XV teams are just as professional as our provincial unions, with
scholarships frequently used to poach talent.
Hastings Boys’ High School first XV team manager Jason Bird said this week more than half his side had agents. That is not uncommon.
Nanai-Seturo is believed to now be on a New Zealand sevens contract, with the promise of graduating to one with the Hamilton-based Chiefs in 2019.
After his time in the St Kentigern College first XV, his switch of allegiance may have happened organically but New Zealand Rugby are capable of using powers of persuasion, too.
Although his own doing, NanaiSeturo is now at the centre of an ugly public spat, something of a throwback to the old days of bitter attitudes between the rugby and league codes.
Given the fallout, NZ Rugby should probably have left NanaiSeturo out of the Hamilton sevens squad this weekend, allowing the situation to settle somewhat.
Regardless of where the tug of war ends up, the sad part is Nanai-Seturo will always have the stigma of the guy who turned his back on one code and will, thus, upset a large section of fans.
Rather than discussing the prospects of this clearly talented rookie, instead he already has hugely inflated expectations and unnecessary hype.
That the courts may decide his immediate future sums up this sorry story.
Rather than discussing the prospects of this clearly talented rookie, instead he already has hugely inflated expectations and unnecessary hype. That the courts may decide his immediate future sums up this sorry story.