http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/timana-tahu-brings-back-sonny-bill-williams-memories/story-e6frext9-1225754140353
Timana Tahu brings back Sonny Bill Williams memories
ONE player skips training to secretly take up a rugby contract. Another star skips training to covertly sign a league contract. Neither say a word to their teammates.
The first creates howls of protest and is rugby league's greatest ever villain. The second is warmly welcomed "home'' by the same league community, not least the game's top official.
Anyone smell the faint odour of hypocrisy?
The Sonny Bill Williams case and Timana Tahu's re-defection may not be directly related but they share enough DNA to be close cousins.
And the contrasting reactions have been very interesting indeed.
Unhappy in the NRL, Williams packed up and disappeared overseas to play French rugby.
He didn't tell anyone at the Bulldogs - including his mates - and had signed a deal while still under contract to them.
Understandably, there was widespread condemnation. Officials, players, former friends and fans all united to vilify the treacherous SBW - singing loudly the sanctity of contracts and the unbreakable bonds of a team.
Fast forward 12 months and Tahu doesn't rock up to Wallabies training on Wednesday.
Though believed to be injured, Tahu didn't turn up for a medical as is standard practice or ring through an apology. Frustrated in rugby, Tahu was busy across town nutting out a new contract to play for the Parramatta Eels.
By that afternoon, the whole world had discovered the former Kangaroo was returning to league. All except his Wallabies teammates, that is, who only heard when the story slowly filtered through on the training track, via this paper's website exclusive.
And here's the rub. At the point of agreeing to a new deal with the Eels on Wednesday, Tahu had 30 months left to run on an ARU contract worth $400,000 a year.
Even with the get-out clause inserted in his contract, Tahu had six months to serve in rugby and no release had been secured.
None of this contractual obligation, however, was given a second thought by a joyously myopic league community.
Before Tahu has even sat down with the ARU to discuss a possible release - and as of last night he still hadn't - league types everywhere were celebrating the centre's "return home'', saying it was great to see him back where his heart was. All in all, a happy ending.
NRL boss David Gallop weighed in: "We're pleased to see Timana back in our game, hopefully pulling on the blue and yellow.''
Sorry? Is this same group who screamed blue murder when SBW signed a new contract with Toulon when already under one at the Dogs? Who were willing to tar and feather the IRB for not stepping in, simply because they had no jurisdiction?
Who said you don't - just don't - walk out on your mates?
Can anyone imagine what sort of wild reaction such triumphant cries from the French rugby chiefs, or any rugby figures, at the time would have elicited back here?
There appear to be some very short memories in rugby league on the virtues of a contract.
Tahu may have legitimate reasons - and ultimately a loophole - to leave rugby union.
However, the manner in which it has all gone down leaves a pretty sour taste in the mouthfor a lot of people.
It's fair to say both his NSW and Wallabies teammates were yesterday feeling pretty let down with the secretive departure.
Tahu hates confrontation, so white lies are his way to avoid it. But like SBW, blatant deception should never be excused. And definitely not celebrated.
Whilst I agree that Tahu should be upfront with the ARU about his switch back to Rugby League, I think comparing Tahu with SBW is chalk and cheese. Why? Because Tahu has a get-out clause in his contract.
Also - to be fair to Tahu and Parramatta, nothing has been formally announced yet. It's all just media reports. Perhaps Tahu was to approach the ARU but unfortunately for him and the Eels it was leaked to the media before they got the chance to finalise things.
So comparing this to SBW who didnt have a get out clause and just jumped on a plane and skipped the country is laughable! There's no comparison!
Typical union docuhebag who has NFI but reckons he knows it all and that his code is bound by honour.
Tahu did have a clause in his contract. He also was hardly part of the Wallabies or Waratahs squads anyway - wasn't he demoted to playing club rugby? :roll:
Face it - the ARU, at the time they signed him, thought (rightfully) he'd be a massive coup. But unfortunately, injury and just the game itself meant that Tahu's union campaign didn't go as planned. But rather than admit it was an error in judgement to sign him in the first place, they rant and rave about the 30 months he had left on his contract.
SBW had 5 years left on his contract and walked out. Tahu had 30 months left AND a get-out clause.
SBW was a regular first grade player and international. Tahu occassionally played for the Wallabies and Waratahs.
SBW packed his bags and left for overseas mid-season. Tahu is still in Australia ffs.
Why do we welcome him back? Because union always puts the boot in and steals our top players. League isn't stupid enough to try and recruit union players because they realise the two games, though similar, are different enough to know it wouldn't work. And so if an extremely talented bloke who is being poorly utilised comes back, of course we'll welcome him.
The two situations are nothing alike. But I guess the idiot who wrote the article was just trying to get a rise out of league fans. And credit to the clueless, ignorant wanker - he got me.
good luck to them for a big year next year .
