Chiefs

ruckingkiwi says...

Oh and Shane Cameron is a full time professional boxer, Sonny could at best be described as an amateur. I'm not sure Shane would think it worth it to call him out over that belt, but you may as well if you think he's so rubbish?

Posted 02:07 22nd July 2012

Euskadi says...

I'll tell you why SBW wont fight Shane Cameron because its not worth it for Shane Cameron, it would be a nothing fight for Cameron and professionally Cameron would be the only one with something to lose why because Shane Cameron is a professional boxer, he weighs up his opportunities in relation to their financial credentials, what payoff he'd get and/or what next fight it will set up for him. No one bemoans pro boxers (Mayweather) for being professionals, picking and choosing whats best for them, nor basketballers (Jeremy Lin), baseballers (A Rod), footballers (long list). Perhaps because rugby is newly professional some fans are yet to move on with the times.

None of the people that ruckingkiwi mentions hav e anything negative to say about SBW nor his management team, in fact they have been exceedingly complimentary and they all seem to think that the guy is a pretty good rugby player.

Posted 11:06 21st July 2012

tha_mai says...

kitch - the continuous comparisons with Brad Thorn; achievements yes - but he had an extra ten years to get them Williams at 26 has a long career in front of him if he stays injury-free. Maybe compare Thorn's career at 26?

Posted 07:48 21st July 2012

kitch says...

funny bc alot of sbw lovers say that he is a professional and is only trying to get the best deal for himself.. yet he says himself thats not entirely the case.

it seems hes afraid to commit long term bc the longer he stays in the game the more chance he has of his value dropping.. "ive seen far too many players get to that age where theyre probably not performing as well as they have in previous years and skip the cut"

.. maybe he realises nonu is still the man for the job and he cant stand the prospect of not being picked to start again (aka rwc final)... may be hell only come back when

he sees there is no competition...maybe bc he was exposed in the tri nations last year he couldnt face that happening again this year ..maybe thats why he fought the nz heavy weight title bc he saw who he was fighting!!.. (me thinks he wouldnt have done so if it were shane cameron!!).. this explains too why Japan ..he will no doubt be a hit over there, more so than if he stayed in super rugby!!

definitely his mo seems to be stay short term, make an impact , get out before someone shows you up and lessens your value!..sad!!

Posted 19:37 20th July 2012

Euskadi says...

I agree Carpelone, SBW is not a legend in either code. He's a fantastic athlete with potential in bucket loads. I have a feeling that we have not seen the last of this mans achievements in rugby or league. Maybe he'll give MMA a go next?

Posted 17:45 20th July 2012

Euskadi says...

I am in awe of SBW and his management team, I think collectively they are doing an amazing job for themselves.

SBW has achieved more in his career than most if not all athletes (excl. Thorne) in either rugby or league, calls on him not completing anything are lost on me. What is there to complete? In terms of silverware all thats left is a S15 trophy which he could get this year and the RLWC in 2013 which he will be eligible for. Otherwise he has a RWC medal, he didn't play in the final but he is just as worthy as any other squad member (Gear and Carter included) and a premiership winner in league, a Kiwi representative plus this guy is a champion boxer, OK the NZ belt isn't worth much but he is the legitimate holder.

His achievements and credentials aside, the way his management team operates should be an MO for agents around the world, doing whats best for their player(s) if thats what that player wants. Seemingly SBW gets what he wants out of his contracts, the contractor doesn't need to sign him if they dont like the terms but it doesn't look like theres a shortage of demand for this mans signature. Why? Because he brings back more in revenue and ratings than he demands in $$.

Good luck SBW, stay injury free, win a S15 with the Chiefs, successfully defend and bring the RLWC back to NZ in 2013, then come back to rugby in time to help the ABs defend the 2015 RWC.

Posted 19:36 19th July 2012

APV1 says...

@ ruckingkiwi - since when was a sound grasp of rugby and an ability to put a reasoned argument together a pre-requisite for posting on the site?

I was under the impression that ill-informed opinions, based on nothing but bias and blind-hatred were the mode du jour.

Good grief, we'd all better go now, if that's the case!

;-)

Posted 11:04 19th July 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Do you still own those companies Carpelone or were you afraid to follow through with what you started? :) And what time didn't who play against you?

Irrespective of my comments you sound like a good man so I'm reluctant to (attempt) to put the boot in too much. We'd all like to see SBW stay and fulfil his immense potential, I'm not sure why people say he's the best 12 (Nonu, JDV, JOc, Roberts etc) but he showed he has the potential to be one of the very best, not many would disagree with that..

Kitch, you sound like one of those "rugby internet warriors" Carpelone mentions. With respect to Owen Glen, it's only one mans opinion, however there are 14 other teams in the NRL that would love have Sonny on their roster and arguably NZs greatest ever rugby coach, GH and his assistants, Smith & Hansen (2 of the countries' greatest rugby brains) thought SBW was good enough to be an All Black. Until you can say something to show us you know more about rugby than these guys, you just sound like a sad, jealous little person.

Posted 02:34 19th July 2012

kitch says...

i agree carpelone... did you see how great sbw was against the canes!.. boden barrett did better offloads and 1 was while being tackled by sbw!!..head high tackle, having no clue what to do when he broke the line, stuffing up a try by greedily holding onto the ball instead of passing it wide again!!,and not knowing what to do when tackled.

i thnk Owen Glen who is an undoubted achiever, says it all when he calls sbw a "show pony" and cant see anything in sbw to even warrant lifting a finger to persue his services.. lol!

in my opinion his MO seems to be, commit short term, make an impact and then get out before his limited skills are found wanting as was the case in the tri nations last year and before the tri nations this year.. and he is entitled to do that.

I would argue that Brad Thorne achieved far more in both codes and with a great deal more dignity , respect, consistancy and at a higher level!(at least he started and played for the full 80min in rwc as opposed to being a bench player for the whole final!!.. hence one could ask exactly how did he help he ABs win the world cup!) .. ok so he didnt box against fat useless nobodies...but why would he want to humiliate himself!!!

I would think that having special time and money spent on him to bring him up to scratch by the crusaders,cheifs and ABs , he would show a bit of loyalty, integrity, and respect to stay in the game a bit longer ,to 'payback' a bit of the faith nz rugby has shown him!

theres a saying.."a good name is worth more than silver or gold"

i can see the next tui billboard will be "Its for the rugby not the money..YEAH RIGHT"

Posted 20:15 18th July 2012

nickfawson says...

He's welcome to go where he wants; anyone who has ever changed jobs, changed industry, or thought I fancy a change doesn't have a leg to stand on. He's free to do what he wants, play whatever sport he wants and make as much money as possible, or would you turn down a massive pay rise from another company out of loyalty to your current employer?

Posted 15:13 18th July 2012