He had a massive injury in 03, but he nevertheless came back hard. When the Warriors stuffed up there was a massive bidding war including many MANY NRL clubs. But noone could compete with the ESL money - especially mid-season. He was offered and turned down $500,000 a season by Wigan in 04, so god knows what he got at Leeds! He was a very sought after and hot prospect.
The problem was this, Eric Watson came in and buys the club, what kind of millionaire player doesn't own a sports franchise, and put Mick Watson in charge. Things under Daniel Anderson get very rosey. 2001 first finals ever, 2002 min prem and GF, 2003 Destroy the Dogs in the finals, beat Canberra and then lose a close game in the prelim to the Panthers who win the GF the next week. So the suits know what they're doing right? Showing every body prior how you do things to get success, yeah?
Ali had had a cyst in 03, but he came back strongly for the finals charge. Not 02 form, but certainly one of the best players in the game still, 04 the Warriors have a horror start. 1 - 4, so the suits come in to see what is going on and sort the problem because they know best... Not understanding polynesian culture, Mick Watson gets mad when Ali says he plays to have fun instead of saying what they wanted to hear, that he plays to win. He sacked him and then humiliated him in the media repeatedly, and through other players like captain Monty B, who was obviously following club orders, on a total cultural misunderstanding. It was shocking and disgusting. Obviously, you play any game you play to win, but he was very religious and from a humble culture where you say "that you play to have fun and not care whether you win or lose". The man clearly played to win, or when he was having fun, he was winning games, sometimes single-handedly.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_story_skin/422047?format=html
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_story_skin/422361?format=html
Warriors continue to lose, bye bye Daniel Anderson.
It was just total mismanagement of humble and religious polynesian culture. The Warriors and other clubs have learned their lessons from this, and it is far less of an issue now. After this incident, and a few others, clubs and coached learned how to manage and communicate with Polynesian players better.
There were also total unrealisitc expectations. The suits thought they could turn the club into something more successful than the Broncos. So after the previous three years they thought move over Brisbane. Even Wayne sometimes missed the finals or got a bad start. Through it, they lost a magnificent forward strike weapon and then they sacked the classy coach. Eventually the suits learned to back off.
To be honest, I could see a repeat of this on the cards in Newcastle in a few years...
The scariest thing, is none of the games that Ali played were complete hidings,
R1 Brisbane 28 v New Zealand 20 at Lang
R2 New Zealand 10 v St George Illawarra 16 at NZ
R3 Ali missed the game against the Panthers
R4 Manly 10 v New Zealand 28 at Brookvale
R5 New Zealand 20 v Newcastle 34
R6 Bulldogs 24 v New Zealand 18
Incredulous...
After Ali left the wheels started to really fall off...
