Lauitiiti would have been on top money, Seu Seu was a full blown test player at that stage one of the premier props, Tookey was a shandy off Origin when he resigned, Marsh had his contract upgraded so he was on some, Motu Tony was released I'm sure he was on some. Jobson from all accounts said himself he was on a lot higher than he got at Newcastle.
I think one of a few things has happened
* Price and Wiki are on far more than the Warriors let on
* The Warriors have camped money aside for a player off contract this year, no prizes for guessing who although personally I think that'd be an irrational and stupid move and would still be highly unlikely to come off
* Or the Warriors straight out are doing the dirty on Kiwi reps
If the latter's the case, the Warriors are no better than Penrith with Puletua. Infact, given that the Warriors and Kiwis brands have so much in common, they'd be worse. What the Warriors have done over the past two years is unceremoniously self destruct the heart, fibre, soul and integrity of rugby league in New Zealand and made it quite frankly a laughing stock. Their contract cullings have been synonomous with poor management, here's why
* Management signs player X for a period of 4 years, then 1.5 years into discover he's not up to cutting the mustard - Question: Haven't management got it wrong offering what they initially offered, EG I'd love to see their KPIs to measure player performances because if they discover a player is no good, then what drove them to believe they were THAT good in the first place
* Player Y, talented youngster from Auckland, age 16 gets an offer from the Warriors, and lets say .... Manly. Manly's is slightly better, not by much, but slightly better. Player Y is now more inclined to switch to Manly. Before, in 2001-2003 you could get away with trotting out the Loyalty line, after all, Dave Dobbyn's Loyal accompanied the team at Ericsson there for a while (How Ironic is that given the contract culls? Loyal my ar$ehole). Now, player Y fears for his security at the club, and the innuendo, contract culls, and lack of comprehensive answers by the Warriors quite frankly makes him fearful. Player Y at age 19 turns into SBW or cutie. Franchise player for 10 years gone like that.
* Player Q, current Warriors player was a close friend of any of the players savaged by management, decides enough is enough, either decides, despite pressure from the Warriors to resign before June 30, to test the market. Player Q signs elsewhere. Warriors lose top line player. Other players in a state of disharmony.
All players at the Warriors must be on watch now. It seems to have created an us versus them scenario, the last thing the joint needed. They'll also lose truckloads of support in New Zealand if they do not quash the rebellion about "We don't want our players playing for the Kiwis", if they don't deny it, or if its proven to be true, heartland support will dip. Fans through the turnstyle will dip. Juniors wanting to be Warriors will dip.
Quite frankly, this departure will hurt New Zealand Rugby League very seriously, particularly with the implications of why.
As to the player involved, on field this is a serious loss. The person who said Vinnie Anderson would not be part of the Warrior's 17 is dreaming. Vinnie was I believe the number 1 defender from a centre's perspective last year when you combine tackle efficiency, and the staggering number of tackles per game he got through. He was a workaholic in a team of supposed showman. The showmen lost their touch badly last year, and the only thing stopping the club catapulting into the wooden spoon was the effort of the workmen - the Andersons, Betham, Ropati, Koopu, Te Mata and young Paleaaesina's continued growth. Forget Meli, Toopi, Faumuina, Jones, Guttenbeil, Hohaia and the other glorified stars, those boys were where the money was at in 2004. Thats why they brought Price and Wiki in, to give the team that "Kevvy Campion" style work ethic. The hard work. Get through the guts of the game. Make the hards. Tidy the middle of the ruck up. Just like Campion did, and we all know the wonders he worked at the Warriors.
The other sad side of it is this - Louis Anderson. This kid is a serious talent who shone in a woeful side last year. What odds on him going elsewhere? He's a long term Warriors captain, and Kiwis captain, this won't do him any good.
