Vuna on Lookout For Early Release!

[antonius]

Seriously, you could go to your employer and say "I have these traffic fines, and they are going to take my right to drive away, what should I do? Cause you should have the foresite to see, that even if I dont pay them and do loose that right, I am still going to drive"?

Would they 'counsel' you, or simply say 'ummmmm, you better pay them'

I agree that Vuna probably deserves a shot on the wing.

But I can tell you this, since his return from injury, he has known what is required to get him a start in NRL, and he has not met that requirement. It was by no means an impossible ask.

No I'm not saying that, I'm saying without knowing his details ie:- age, how long has he been here and so on does he know how things work in Australia? did he know that would happen. Coby infered that employers don't care about what happens to their employees outside work even if it's by their own doing, I say they do, and they do for good reason, it affects their work ethic, and can affect other people around them in the workplace. Again my choice of "minder" was poor, and I was assuming the club knew his situation. How old is Vuna?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Seriously Antonious you are speaking like Vuna is a special needs child, its not as if he is comming from Nigeria or some such, NZ is very similar and might as well be another state of Australia.

I am sure if he did the same thing in NZ driving without a licence twice in the same week the penalties would be the same if not harsher.

 

[TooheysNew]

No I'm not saying that, I'm saying without knowing his details ie:- age, how long has he been here and so on does he know how things work in Australia? did he know that would happen. Coby infered that employers don't care about what happens to their employees outside work even if it's by their own doing, I say they do, and they do for good reason, it affects their work ethic, and can affect other people around them in the workplace. Again my choice of "minder" was poor, and I was assuming the club knew his situation. How old is Vuna?

Don't put words in my mouth please Tony.

Companies will offer councilling. That's correct. But they won't hold your hand through every little problem life throws at you, they won't tell you when to pay you phone bill, they won't wipe your bum for you, and they won't prevent you from getting in trouble with law when you don't pay your fines.

Vuna is old enough to look after himself. It is not the club's responsibility to baby him.

 

[Serc]

minder...

rofl I had a picture of that in my mind since the first post of this thread...you've done it again mr pic master!

 

[Karmawave]

Companies will offer councilling. That's correct.

Does League Unlimited provide a service for you to help you deal with us?

 

[TooheysNew]

I do indeed. It's called a ban button. ;-)

 

[Joker's Wild]

No I'm not saying that, I'm saying without knowing his details ie:- age, how long has he been here and so on does he know how things work in Australia? did he know that would happen. Coby infered that employers don't care about what happens to their employees outside work even if it's by their own doing, I say they do, and they do for good reason, it affects their work ethic, and can affect other people around them in the workplace. Again my choice of "minder" was poor, and I was assuming the club knew his situation. How old is Vuna?

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=862&team=Knights

Cooper is 22yo. He signed with us mid '07 so he has been here for 18 months, has a kid and a fiancé so I think he is old enough to know better.

 

[antonius]

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=862&team=Knights

Cooper is 22yo. He signed with us mid '07 so he has been here for 18 months, has a kid and a fiancé so I think he is old enough to know better.

Fair enough, I thought he was younger than that.

 

[roopy]

I think the correct word is mentor.
Vuna needs an older, experienced and level headed guy to be his mentor.
I nominte Mark Tuafua - a mature Newcastle local.

 

[antonius]

Don't put words in my mouth please Tony.

Companies will offer councilling. That's correct. But they won't hold your hand through every little problem life throws at you, they won't tell you when to pay you phone bill, they won't wipe your bum for you, and they won't prevent you from getting in trouble with law when you don't pay your fines.

Vuna is old enough to look after himself. It is not the club's responsibility to baby him.

Your words.

If an 18 year old kid gets a job at Coles - Coles has no responsibility towards the kid in terms of his behaviour outside of work, and why should they?

Why should a football club be any different?

I'm not putting words in your mouth. What I'm saying is that had a bloke working for say BHP had problems with fines and resultant court appearances etc and they knew about it they would offer him advice re his situation. I know for a fact that my company does and have done that type of thing.

You're correct in saying they have no responsibility, but you'll find (as I said) most employers do help employees with those types of problems. I had the impression that Vunas' probs were more a result of ignorance, or laziness, and I repeat maybe the Knights were not aware of it. Yes he is old enough to know better.
However I still believe he's been treated poorly in respect to the playing side of things, standing him down from first grade for it is extreme given that they will still allow him to play for Cessnock before his court case.

 

[Pika]

I think standing a player down pending legal action that could see him incarcerated is not an over reation.

Allowing him to play for cessnock is actually the life line he may need should he stay at the Club or go elsewhere. If he was banned altogether he will be good to noone with rusty skills and a weight problem.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Pretty sad even when not playing that you have to be concerned about a proffessional athlete packing on the kilo's I'd like to think most NRL players are disciplined enough to take care of it.

 

[Burwood]

The sad thing is that most reports about Vuna after he suffered his injury in the pre-season were very positive. They spoke about how he still turned up to training sessions, helped do the homework on the weekly opposition and was being very upbeat about the whole thing.

I was expecting him to come back bigger and better than ever after his injury. To me it now looks like he thinks he should be guaranteed a place in the starting lineup, regardless of his match fitness and weight.

 

[Pika]

I dont think anyone could question his commitment and attitude to the team and training.

 

[Burwood]

I dont think anyone could question his commitment and attitude to the team and training.

But I can tell you this, since his return from injury, he has known what is required to get him a start in NRL, and he has not met that requirement. It was by no means an impossible ask.

So what is holding him back?

 

[Pika]

Weight.

He trains as hard as anyone so he must consume mountains of rubbish.

 

[Karmawave]

Weight.

He trains as hard as anyone so he must consume mountains of rubbish.

Do the Knights use the caliper testing method when measuring fat?

I know two other NRL clubs who don't measure body fat % as such now, but take the caliper to different parts of the body ( waist , back of triceps, calves, back/lats etc ) and come up with a reading in millimetres of total fat.

I imagine if this is so Kurt Gidley would have the lowest? I know at two other teams, the top readings are usually around 40-45mm of fat, and the ' 100 Club ' is designed for extra training for players who can't crack lower than 100mm fat.

Similar at the Knights?

 

[Burwood]

Weight.

He trains as hard as anyone so he must consume mountains of rubbish.

So how is his performance at training? Is his speed and strength still up there compared to when he was playing at his optimal weight?

If so, surely his weight shouldn't be a major factor. I remember a comment from Smith regarding Wicks last year- Smith didn't care what his weight was, he just wanted Wicks playing at a weight that he was comfortable with.

 

[Pika]

Imagine a prop is a work truck and a back is a sports car.

Throw some extra crap in the back of the work truck and it still does its job.

Throw estra crap in the sports car and it slows down a fair bit.

Karma, same test by the sounds. Nine points from memory.

Different positions have different requirements, but as you say, getting over the 100 is extra work.

 

[Pumba]

Vuna on lookout for early release
BY ROBERT DILLON

TROUBLED winger Cooper Vuna has been exploring the option of gaining an early release from the Newcastle Knights to join another club, either in the NRL or overseas.

Vuna is contracted to Newcastle until the end of next season, but his manager has been in negotiations with Wests Tigers about a possible mid-season transfer.

Any move to a rival NRL outfit this season would need to be completed by June 30, which is the cut-off point for signing new players.

It is understood Vuna's agent has also been making inquiries with English clubs, but his chances of gaining a United Kingdom working visa may hinge on the outcome of his July 7 court appearance in relation to alleged driving offences.

Knights management has indicated it would not stand in Vuna's way if he was able to strike a deal elsewhere.

Wests Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell confirmed last night that he had been negotiating with Vuna's manager and Knights strategic development officer Keith Onslow about signing the 21-year-old Tongan international for at least the balance of this season.

But McDonnell said the proposed move now appeared unlikely.

"We have had some discussions about the possibility of picking him up for the rest of the year, but I'd say it's probably not going to eventuate," McDonnell said.

"I spoke to his manager today, who's in England at the moment, and it sounds like he [Vuna] was leaning towards staying in Newcastle."

Onslow said there was no deal imminent "at the moment".

If Vuna found a new home, it may free up funds under Newcastle's salary cap for Dragons youngster Chase Stanley, who has reportedly held preliminary discussions with the Knights.

The Herald left a message on Vuna's phone last night, but he did not return the call.

It is understood the Auckland-born flyer, who has played 31 NRL games since joining Newcastle from the Warriors midway through 2007, has been frustrated by his lack of top-grade opportunities this season.

After suffering knee-ligament damage in Newcastle's opening trial, he was sidelined for the first two months of the 2009 campaign.

By the time he was fit to resume, Akuila Uate and James McManus were established as first-choice flankers.

Vuna has played only one top-grade game this year, scoring a try and playing strongly in the win against the Roosters, but was omitted for Uate the next week.

With McManus injured, Vuna would have been in contention for an NRL recall against South Sydney this week, but he was stood down by Knights management on Monday until after he is processed by the legal system.

Vuna will front Newcastle Local Court on July 7 and faces up to two years in jail after allegedly being caught driving with a suspended licence twice in seven days.

If found guilty, it would jeopardise his prospects of signing with an English Super League outfit.

Kiwi international Greg Eastwood had planned to join Leeds this year, but he was refused a visa because of a driving conviction.

Herald