wait dont worry...
Faumuina, Betham head to UK
28 August 2005
BY MICHAEL DONALDSON
Mick Watson may have resigned as chief executive but the turmoil surrounding the New Zealand Warriors continues unabated.
It's understood rising star Sione Faumuina has pressured the club into letting him sign a short-term contract with Warrington that will prevent him from playing for the Kiwis against Australia on October 16.
His move comes as unhappy former captain Monty Betham negotiates to leave the club with a year left on his contract to join UK Super League club Wakefield Trinity.
And the Sunday Star-Times understands club doctor Chris Hanna is set to quit and will replaced by former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew, an appointment which points to the growing influence John Hart has at the club.
Mayhew said yesterday he had yet to receive an offer from the Warriors but wouldn't rule out taking the job as long as it didn't clash with his employment at the Millennium Institute on Auckland's North Shore.
Mayhew was close to accepting the job of Warriors doctor in 1995 but instead went to the All Blacks where his close friend Hart had just taken over as coach.
Hart is now an independent director of Warriors majority owner Cullen Sports. He will be part of the review team which decides, among other things, whether coach Tony Kemp will keep his job.
Some sources are pointing to Hart taking a more hands-on role at the club, possibly as football director, but Watson ruled that out.
It's understood Hart was behind Faumuina's negotiations. The versatile player, who is likely to be in the No6 jersey for the Warriors next season, demanded the club release him for the lucrative short-term deal.
It's similar to the six-game arrangement Andrew Johns has with Warrington, but Newcastle only let Johns go on the condition he commit himself to the Knights for another three years. There's no such commitment from Faumuina.
If he goes, Faumuina won't be available for the Kiwis' October 16 test against the Kangaroos in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Watson told the Star- Times Betham is questioning his future in the NRL because of his poor judiciary record and the way he's been treated by Warriors' fans in recent weeks.
"Monty has had a challenging year because of three dynamics," Watson said.
"He has had injuries which will potentially shorten his career. He's had problems with the judiciary which now leave him `loaded' from that point of view every time he takes the field.
"And he has had an unhappy year with the media and fans, particularly after that incident in the Roosters game," Watson said referring to Betham's punch-up with Anthony Tupou which cost the Warriors a try in that close match.
"He got booed in one of our home games which upset him and he's unhappy with the way he's being viewed. So he's speaking to us about whether he stays in New Zealand or goes overseas.
"There's been no release from the final year of his contract at this point."
Sources in the UK suggest a deal could be done as early as this week but it might be complicated by the fact there is a huge question mark over Betham's eligibility as an import.
To qualify, a player have played in 75% of possible NRL games over the past two years or must be a test player. Betham doesn't qualify on either count with injuries and suspension restricting his NRL appearances. He last turned out for the Kiwis in 2003 and is unlikely to be picked on the end-of-year tour.
Wakefield chief executive Dian Rogerson said his club was interested in Betham.
"Coach Tony Smith has been watching his performances and we have spoken to his agent," Rogerson said.
"We will probably put a contract to him next week."
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