Why is he, and so many others, given a release? Either someone pays a transfer fee or he plays out the rest of his contract. Otherwise we might as well have everyone on rolling one year contracts as they don't seem to be worth the paper they're printed on.
Look, mate, if I was runnin' the show, I’d be tappin’ PUJ on the shoulder and sayin’, “Cheers bro, might be time to pack the kit bag early.” Not ‘cause he’s hopeless, nah, he’s solid, but just reckon the Canes are thinkin’ he’s surplus to the current menu. Like ordering a meat pie when you've already got a burger and chips on the plate, too much 12, not enough room.
PUJ’s pretty much a straight-up-and-down inside centre. That’s his patch. But with Jordie Barrett swingin’ that big boot around and Riley Higgins comin’ through with steam comin’ out his nostrils, it’s hard to see him crackin’ the lineup without someone mysteriously "tripping over a barbell" at training.
And let’s not forget the old salary cap, the invisible handbrake of pro rugby. You’ve gotta get a bit cheeky with it, ay? Move some coin around. You’ve only got so much cabbage, and it might be better thrown at a big ol’ fridge of a lock who can maul like a wild boar and lift your auntie in the lineout.
Now look, I’m not inside the Canes war room with a headset and a spreadsheet, so yeah, bit of guesswork here. But they wouldn’t be lettin’ PUJ out the door unless they’d already made peace with it. You don’t let your missin’ puzzle piece walk away unless you’re already workin’ on a new one made of bricks and biceps.
Just the way the footy cookie crumbles, bro.
Cheers, RB OUT. 
www.stuff.co.nz
www.stuff.co.nz
