Nonu quite right to join south’s Joseph revolution
SOME PEOPLE make easy targets. All Black Ma’a Nonu is one. If wearing mascara and hair ribbons wasn’t enough to scare the horses, his recent move to ditch the Blues for the Highlanders has caused something of a stampede. Of blind criticism, that is. Rugby-heads are leaping at the chance to speak ill of him; to jump to conclusions and paint him as a villain. It’s as if he’s been caught melting down the Webb Ellis Cup for ear-rings.
It’s hard to fathom where all this hostility has come from. Maybe it’s just that, now Sonny Bill Williams is gone, there’s fewer individuals for the perpetually disgruntled to complain about. Lucky Ma’a. The number of folk who phoned radio stations during the week to complain about him almost outnumbered the Blues’ total crowd figures last season. Nonu this, and Nonu that; Nonu, Nonu – it was like a scene out of that old TV series, Mork and Mindy.
The crux of most of the whinging? Seems to revolve around the notion that Nonu, by leaving Auckland and flying south for the winter, has been disloyal; unfaithful even. Hopefully the world’s best second five-eighth is having a good laugh about that. After all, for someone who was unceremoniously cut from the Hurricanes following eight years of service, he knows a thing or two about loyalty in pro sport. Ergo: there isn’t any.
Spare me the nonsense about Nonu breaking his contract. He didn’t breach it at all; he merely activated a clause within it. That is, he was well within his rights to make a last-minute decision to move to the Highlanders. That he may have performed an aboutturn on a verbal agreement with Blues coach John Kirwan is neither here nor there. Until the formal cutoff date he was effectively a free agent. Perfectly entitled to change his mind.
Handshakes and mates’ agreements? They don’t cut the ice anymore. If anyone doubts this they should consider New Zealand Cricket’s premature celebration of Allan Donald as its new bowling coach. Only bit they were waiting for was Donald’s signature. It never arrived. Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish once thought he’d signed soon-tobecome Manchester United hardman Roy Keane. But then Sir Alex Ferguson phoned. And so on.
Some have attacked the NZRU, complaining that its contract system must be fundamentally flawed if it allowed Nonu such latitude. They too, are missing the point. Faced with a wealthy northern hemisphere market that would strip New Zealand of its best players in a flash, the governing body is right to allow such flexibility. That’s how they’ve been able to keep their star attractions in the country for so long. They’re winning a battle they really have
If wearing mascara and hair ribbons wasn’t enough to scare the horses, his recent move to ditch the Blues for the Highlanders has caused something of a stampede.
no right to win.
Anyway, it’s not hard to imagine the reasons for Nonu’s late decision. From early last year when he was kicked out of the Hurricanes he’s hardly had a chance to collect his thoughts. The All Blacks’ world cup campaign, a brief assignment in Japan, a season with Pat Lam’s lowly Blues and another international season; it’s probably only now that he’s been able to reassess in relative calm. Understandably, he’s decided to do what’s best for him.
And just on that, it’s been intriguing to observe the ‘‘pulling power’’ of the Highlanders coach, Jamie Joseph. Andrew Hore, Hosea Gear, Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn and Nonu; Joseph’s not only assembling a useful-looking unit down south, he’s landed a couple of specific blows to the plans of Kirwan. Needless to say, when it came to the broadsides being launched at Nonu during the week, not much flak was coming from south of the Waitaki.
Fair enough, everyone will have their own take on Nonu’s decision to switch to the Highlanders. But those who’ve been accusing him of behaving disgracefully and dishonourably are either deliberately missing the point, or they have a terrible understanding of pro sport. After all, when you work for people who can summarily sack you on the spot, despite your performance, it’s only fair you’re allowed to pick which ones you’d prefer to be with.
As for loyalty? Well, loyalty has always been a two-way street. As such, there’s never been any room for it in pro sport.
In other news: Another week, another plaintive cry from the LADs, as we’ve named the last few Lance Armstrong Defenders. I’ll let Bruce Burn, of Gisborne, be their spokesman today. Apparently, (1) it’s all hearsay evidence (incorrect) (2) testimony isn’t really evidence (incorrect) (3) an opinion piece is just opinion (correct) and (4) if Armstrong was really ‘‘nothing but a greedy criminal’’ (which I didn’t allege) he would already be in jail (incorrect).