SBW set to walk out on NZRU

[Ruggo]

What is it With hookers and Nandos? Squeaky has one also in Belconnin I think.

 

[Crow]

What is it With hookers and Nandos? Squeaky has one also in Belconnin I think.

Nando's recent advertising campaign has the answer there

 

[fatprop]

He is under the umbrella of Mundine & Nasser, they are only interested in themselves and don't care about anyone else.

Back in 1998 Mundine was doing this crap, well before SBW.

The sting
Jamie Pandaram
August 20, 2011



THE most infamous love pursuit in rugby league can finally be revealed as a fraud.

Solomon Haumono's round-the-world dash for model Gabrielle ''The Pleasure Machine'' Richens in 1998 created global headlines and, while some admired the romanticism, the trip was merely an elaborate ploy to wrangle out of his Bulldogs contract to join the St George Dragons.

Haumono never saw Richens, and sat alone in a London hotel room waiting for the Bulldogs to tear up his contract after agreeing to terms with the Dragons.
Advertisement: Story continues below

The plan was devised by Haumono and close friend Anthony Mundine - then the Dragons five-eighth - but fell over when the Bulldogs got wind of the plot and instead fined Haumono and put him in reserve grade. The Dragons hastily retreated.

Extraordinarily, Mundine helped another Bulldogs star, Sonny Bill Williams, to make a similar scoot 10 years later to get out of his contract and that time it worked. Mundine now admits he learnt some valuable lessons from the failure of the original plan with Haumono when organising Williams's surprise escape to France.

Now pursuing his dream to win the world heavyweight boxing crown, Haumono has come clean on the story in a bid to shed that association from his public image - rarely is his name mentioned without the Pleasure Machine story following.

At the time he did not tell family members for fear the plan would be exposed.

''Looking back now I think I was very immature,'' said Haumono, now a happily married father of four.

''I regret it so much because I couldn't risk my close family members knowing because of a loose whisper. That was hard. I am sorry to all the fans that supported the Bulldogs because they were solid all the way. Even today.''

This is how Haumono conspired to get out of his $400,000-a-year contract with the Bulldogs.

Haumono had actually chased after Richens much earlier, but on meeting her in England realised their relationship would not progress.

After discussions with Mundine, it was decided they would use that story to explain his mystery trip, which left the Bulldogs dumbfounded.

''I was under contract for the Bulldogs so it was decided to come up with a plan that would ultimately force the Bulldogs to rip up my contract,'' Haumono said. ''So the plan was formed that I was going to chase after my girlfriend at the time in England. So off I went and before I knew it the paper got a hold of it and blew it up, making headline news and myself being chased by the media at home and even there in London.''

And it all fell apart quickly.

''It was crazy. Choc [Mundine] added a twist by flying over to rescue me and that just created more of a stir,'' Haumono said. ''We arrived back at Sydney and it was just chaos. All the media wanted to get in on the buzz so it literally didn't stop. We bypassed customs to a room where family and management were waiting, hidden from all the mayhem of reporters, camera crews and general public wanting to see what all the fuss was. We had security escort us to a car that we quickly took off in.''

Mundine explained: ''We had to calculate it in a manner that we had to try to get him out of the deal with the Dogs, because by mouth, verbally, the deal was done.

''We put on that little stage play to try and get the Dogs to do what we wanted them to do.''

Asked if he had used the saga to help him plot Williams's controversial defection to French rugby club Toulon, Mundine replied: ''Yes, we had a bit of experience in that department. No one thought Sonny was going to get out, not even the Dogs, but we found a way.''

Haumono is now active in youth mentoring, helping young men to avoid the traps he fell into.

''My whole sporting career has been in the spotlight for both good and bad reasons,'' he said. ''I'm not above anyone else, but I thought I was as an immature person. Having an older head on my shoulders helps me to live as an example to help the younger generation through the difficult times of growing up.''

Haumono has endured years of judgment over the incident and it has not been easy on his relationship with wife Margaret.

''She was obviously a beautiful girl, but life is about sustainability and not predictability,'' Margaret Haumono said.

''Without doubt our faith in Jesus has got us to where we are today. It's never about giving up on someone you love, it's about being there in the bad and good times and being that support when one is weak and when he has been weak all the 'pat on the back' people have never been there.

''We have never been a perfect couple, but we have grown to have a beautiful family and marriage.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/the-sting-20110819-1j2fb.html#ixzz1WT1sU6jI

 

[antipodean]

As for his contract apparently stating they can't have personal sponsors in conflict with All Black sponsors - I disagree entirely until proven otherwise. In an ideal world I'm sure the ARU and NZRU etc would like to be able to have such clauses in their contracts but it would never be accepted by the Players Association in my opinion. I mean, Mccaw, Carter and Ali Williams own a business together that provides health foods and water and I'm pretty sure you could argue being involved in a such a company and capitalising on their All Blacks 'image' flys in the face of similar or 'hydration' supplies for the All Blacks. So how is that any different to SBW's situation? Aside from the fact it disproves the counter arguements above that SBW's contract prohibits conflicting sponsors and so on.

No actually it doesn't. Carter, McCaw and Williams are prevented from appearing in adds together for their water company as that has too close an association with All Blacks. They are also prevented from providing funds to KidsCan which is an All Blacks funded charity.

I can guarantee you if McCaw et al. attempted to start a sports hydration drink the NZRU would stomp on it as it would be in direct competition with Coca-Cola's brand; a brand Coca-Cola spend good money to be associated with the All Blacks.

as anitpodean states - 'Because the sponsorship that SBW was trying to get was only coming about because of his association with the All Blacks' - and how is this any different to Kevin Mealamu owning several Nando's franchises

Name a chicken franchise that sponsors the NZRU. I'll give you a hand: http://www.nzru.co.nz/sponsors

And I disagree completely with this analogy because its all about compromise... yet the NZRU are not compromising on this one with SBW's and that is contradictory and narrow sighted and is because of the 'agenda' mentioned previously about using this as the opportunity to try and force him out.

What a load of tin foil hat wearing conspiracy shit. He is clearly trying to leverage off being an All Black for this sponsorship and the only reason a competitor to Powerade is interested is because it is blatant hijack marketing. All Blacks make Powerade advertisements. This proposed sponsor for SBW wouldn't give a shit about him if he wasn't an All Black.

 

[Apostle]

What is it With hookers and Nandos? Squeaky has one also in Belconnin I think.

He has a hooker in Belconnin?

 

[Richo]

What is with the tinfoil hat stuff? The simplest explanation is probably the right one: Sony Bill wants the $$ and license to do what he wants re sponsors in the future.

Reminds me of the immortal words of basketball player Latrell Sprewell on turning down a $14m a year contract when he wanted $17m: "My kids gotta eat."

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

was the before or after he tried to choke his coach to death?

 

[Sandpit Fan]

He has a hooker in Belconnin?

I thought all the ACT hookers were in Fyshwick ?? Or is that just the porn shops?

 

[Lee Grant]

I thought all the ACT hookers were in Fyshwick ?? Or is that just the porn shops?

How do you know these things SF?

..... by mouth, verbally, the deal was done.

Not worth the paper it was written on.

 

[RedsHappy]

Interesting poll in the NZ Herald. Out of 1,400 respondents (a reasonable sample size), 65% no less don't want SBW to re-sign with the NZRU:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10748392

 

[Braveheart81]

You surely have to take that with a grain of salt though.

If you followed the Australian media polls, James O'Connor should have been kicked out of the squad for the World Cup and Quade Cooper should have received a lengthy ban for his vicious knee against Richie McCaw.

I think the default response is to bay for blood.

 

[undercoverkiwi]

The issue here in my opinion is not one of loyalty or respecting the All Black jersey.

And whilst I agree that his manager and Mundine are probably not helping the situation... the issue here is SBW's employer vetoeed a major sponsorship deal worth a lot of money because it was with a rival product to a All Blacks sponsor.

I'm not for or against SBW and I'm not interested in getting caught up in Mundine's involvement in his life, SBW walking out on the Bulldogs or anything like that.
I actually believe SBW has every right to be aggrieved and re-considering his options. His 'employer' has just cost him a hell of a lot of money in personal sponsorship.

So let's all consider if we would be slating Horwill or Samo to death if they were offered a contract to be the face of say... Gatorade and the Wallabies said sorry you can't do that, we have a deal to drink Powerade on the field after the game. So Horwill or Samo turns around and say 'poke it then I'm not interested in working for you anymore'...where would we all stand on that one?

Would Samo or Horwill as the face of Gatorade be such a big issue? Does anyone really care if Britney Spears is sponsored by Pepsi but enjoys a can of Coca-Cola?

Why could a compromise not be reached?

Lets not forget here that years ago when the Wallabies were sponsored by Reebok, players were still allowed to have their own boot sponsorship and be the face of other brands - but when playing for Australia they had to black out the distinctive 3 adidas stripes or Nike Swoosh on their boots so as not to clash with Reebok (a fair compromise).

So why has the NZRU been so firm in this situation and not found a compromise to allow SBW to maximise his earning potential (3rd party/sponsers etc)??/

Why? Well personally I think it's because they are quite happy to 'force him out' or too see him go. It will save them a lot of money... he hasn't cemented a starting 12/13 position and the NZRU has squeezed as much as they can from the SBW's product and know they won't get anymore if he's not in the starting team. So, I expect they have chosen to back him into a corner and won't be bothered if as a result he walks away.

95% horseshit.

I have a job. With it comes a contract that says I can't do any private work on the side without my employer agreeing it. I signed the contract. If I now moan cause my employer won't let me do some consulting for a competitor, I am an idiot. Simple.

 

[Athilnaur]

At the end of the day a contract is a voluntary agreement between two consenting parties.

If they don't consent no contract. NZRU is entitled to ask all blicks to wear pink frilly shorts if they want to. Doesn't mean they will get signed.

 

[mark_s]

To me, SBW is in a weak negotiation position. He can't play for any other nation but needs to play in NZ to be eligible for the blacks. Sure he can he to europe for the money or even become a proboxer but either outcome will only confirm the opinions of him that are held both sides of the tasman. I really can't see him going back to the NRL, unless he is allowed to supplement it with some boxing which I can't see any club being happy with this given the already demanding nature of the NRL season. I think the NZRU should play hard ball with him, if he stays, you wan t it to be on terms acceptable to the NZRU and fair to the rest of the AB s.

 

[undercoverkiwi]

To me, SBW is in a weak negotiation position. He can't play for any other nation but needs to play in NZ to be eligible for the blacks. Sure he can he to europe for the money or even become a proboxer but either outcome will only confirm the opinions of him that are held both sides of the tasman. I really can't see him going back to the NRL, unless he is allowed to supplement it with some boxing which I can't see any club being happy with this given the already demanding nature of the NRL season. I think the NZRU should play hard ball with him, if he stays, you wan t it to be on terms acceptable to the NZRU and fair to the rest of the AB s.

In as much as I now give a shit about the guy either way, I agree with you.

My main concern, though, is the timing. I really couldn't care les if he's in NZ next year or not. On balance I'd probably prefer he wasn't, not unless he was getting paid little more than average. But we are now looking like having two lame duck players in our RWC squad (including Guildford, one of the worst RWC squad selections for a while).

What happens if Nonu gets injured and we need a proper back-up at? SBW? No chance. So what's the point of him in our squad? To make up the numebrs against Japan and Canada? We could have had Ben Smith do that, a proper rugby player who could still make a good All Black.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

How do you know these things SF?

:-X Overheard a conversation in the pub..

 

[Blue]

In as much as I now give a shit about the guy either way, I agree with you.

My main concern, though, is the timing. I really couldn't care les if he's in NZ next year or not. On balance I'd probably prefer he wasn't, not unless he was getting paid little more than average. But we are now looking like having two lame duck players in our RWC squad (including Guildford, one of the worst RWC squad selections for a while).

What happens if Nonu gets injured and we need a proper back-up at? SBW? No chance. So what's the point of him in our squad? To make up the numebrs against Japan and Canada? We could have had Ben Smith do that, a proper rugby player who could still make a good All Black.

He is your 12 backup, or who would you play there? Kahui? Toeava? None of them are 12's. He has been picked and I think he will do fine there but Nonu would be a big loss.

You are of course welcome to play any fullback at 12 seeing as you have such a brilliant history of plying fullbacks in the centres at World Cups

 

[undercoverkiwi]

He is your 12 backup, or who would you play there? Kahui? Toeava? None of them are 12's. He has been picked and I think he will do fine there but Nonu would be a big loss.

You are of course welcome to play any fullback at 12 seeing as you have such a brilliant history of plying fullbacks in the centres at World Cups

He's been picked as our 12 back-up, but leaving aside the fact he's not very good, if you were heading into a semi-final and neded someone to step in at 12, would you give it to a guy who clearly couldnt give a shit about your team and is as self-interested as this bloke?

Heaven forbid we lose Nonu, I would probably go for Toeava at 12. Kahui would be tempting - I'm a very big fan of his - but I don't think he's a 12.

Nick Evans at 10 and Carter at 12 would be tasty...

 

[Dam0]

He is your 12 backup, or who would you play there? Kahui? Toeava? None of them are 12's. He has been picked and I think he will do fine there but Nonu would be a big loss.

You are of course welcome to play any fullback at 12 seeing as you have such a brilliant history of plying fullbacks in the centres at World Cups

I have nightmares of a Toeava/Dagg centre pairing or some such bollocks. We have repeated the mistake twice already, lets not make it thrice