Knights to sign up a jailbird
By Josh Massoud
June 06, 2007 12:00
MOVES were last night underway for jailbird winger Wes Naiqama to resurrect his career in Newcastle as part of coach Brian Smith's radical team overhaul.
Set to farewell a host of local heroes next season, the Knights want Naiqama to help fill the void after he completes an eight-month periodic detention sentence, which was handed down yesterday.
The wayward Dragon had his original 12-month sentence - determined by a magistrate in February after he was convicted of unlicensed driving for a sixth time - reduced on appeal before the District Court.
Naiqama will spend Wednesday to Friday each week in Parramatta jail starting from June 14. St George Illawarra last night confirmed a decision on his future would not be made before that date.
Within hours of the speechless star leaving the Downing Centre in a taxi, acting Knights CEO Steve Crowe escalated negotiations with the 24-year-old's management.
"We always anticipated that there would be a period of detention for Wes,'' Crowe told The Daily Telegraph. We've had some general discussions but we hope things will progress more quickly now that we know exactly what his situation is.''
Naiqama's size and speed would be obvious assets in any backline. But his lengthy court record also shapes as an obvious sticking point among Knights fans angry about a looming exodus of home-grown talent.
Smith did not return calls to discuss Naiqama yesterday. Crowe, however, dismissed suggestions the signing might cause unrest within the blue and red faithful.
He revealed "extensive background checks and character tests'' had already been carried out on Naiqama and the club's investigation has even extended to an interview with Dragons coach Nathan Brown.
"We've had nothing but ringing endorsements for him from people who don't have a vested interest in saying that,'' Crowe said. "His coach Nathan Brown was one of the people who lauded Wes.
"We accept he's had a couple of problems, but we are confident he can overcome them here.'' Even with a four-month non-parole period, the earliest date Naiqama could complete his sentence is October 14, a fortnight after the grand final.
His barrister Les Nicholls yesterday argued the periodic detention should have been quashed in favour of a suspended term.
Nicholls argued that, on the day of his latest offence last November, Naiqama was "forced'' to drive then-girlfriend Paulini Curuenavuli from St Vincents Hospital because doctors told the diva she was "medically unfit'' to get behind the wheel.
"The underlying emotions ... of this appellant's personality results in times of stress where he makes, quite simply, poor judgments,'' Nicholls told the court. But judge Peter Berman fired back: "Poor judgments are one thing, criminal judgments are another.''
For much of the proceedings Naiqama sat with his head bowed and left leg nervously twitching. Sidelined for the rest of the year with a knee injury, the footballer arrived more than an hour before the hearing on a pair of steel crutches he tapped gently during his barrister's address to the court.
"It's an altruistic aspect of his personality,'' Nicholls continued. "His main focus is the care of somebody else to the disregard of himself.'' But Justice Berman was largely unmoved yesterday.
Noting Naiqama had never held driving qualifications greater than a learner's permit, he said a sixth offence demanded "significant punishment.''
"(He) needs to learn the consequences of continuing to thumb his nose at the obligation other drivers follow, an obligation to have a licence,'' the judge said.
"No explanation has been given as to why the appellant and his girlfriend could not get a taxi.'' But Berman agreed to reduce Naiqama's term because he believed a penal punishment "had a greater effect'' on a footballer.
After hugging four supporters outside, Naiqama left the court without commenting. His manager Daryl Mather accompanied him to a taxi and later confirmed a desire to explore options at Newcastle.
"Newcastle have expressed an interest and they are the only club to have maintained an interest,'' Mather said. The Dragons board will meet late this month to decide whether to terminate Naiqama.
He has been ordered by the club to complete "additional community service'' in the meantime.
