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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the NRL club New Zealand Warriors are in a contract war over who has rights to one of the best prospects seen in a generation – Etene Nanai-Seturo. He has been described as a stronger version of Kalyn Ponga, a ‘can’t-miss’ prospect in either code.
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Nanai-Seturo grew up playing league but an opportunity to play 1st XV rugby with St Kentigern College changed his trajectory. The younger cousin of NRL superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, also a former schoolboy rugby star, quickly became a sensation for St Kentigern’s 1st XV in rugby at just 15-years-old.
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In that year, the Warriors tabled a five-year contract to the minor – a common occurrence in the ‘race to the bottom’ to secure talent in the NRL. Nanai continued playing rugby for his school, before playing for the Chiefs under-18s and the New Zealand Schoolboys last year.
The legalities of that contract are now at the centre of a battle between New Zealand Rugby and the Warriors.
Last year Nanai’s lawyer sent a letter of resignation to the club on his behalf, which the Warriors believe is invalid. The Warriors are furious at the situation and threatening legal action in order to stop Nanai playing for the New Zealand Sevens team, where he played in Sydney.
Warriors CEO Cameron George explained before the Sydney Sevens to NZME he would be exhausting all avenues.
“I don’t care who it is,” said George.
“I don’t care if it is New Zealand Rugby … it does not worry me in the slightest. We will do what we believe is right. We are not going to get pushed around by anyone, especially in this kind of situation.
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“We have got an obligation to look after the interests and rights of the Warriors, which we will do.”
The case is not a good look for either party and the agents involved. Despite having a contract with league agent Stan Martin, Nanai reportedly also has the services of rugby agent Simon Porter, complicating the matters further.
“He is still contracted to me for league and rugby,” Martin told Newshub.
“As far as playing for New Zealand Sevens is concerned, that’s an issue for the Warriors. I can’t stop him from playing rugby and as his agent, I wouldn’t.”
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Martin, however, admitted he has not heard from any rugby representative.
“Etene looks and appears to want to play rugby and has gone down that path. Rugby is still yet to talk to the Warriors and myself, so it’s a wait and see.
The Warriors attempted to upgrade the youngster on a deal worth an estimated $500,000 for three years to keep him at the club. He declined, leaving the Warriors to take up a team option in the original deal, in their favour, until season 2020.
Stan Martin seems to be on the outer with Nanai-Seturo. Martin partnered with Nanai-Seturo after he joined the Warriors, but his contract states he is his agent regardless of which code he plays which questions the involvement of Porter.
Porter’s agency Essentially is one the biggest in the rugby world, at one point handling the affairs of around 80% of the All Blacks squad. To say that they have strong ties to the NZRU is an understatement. Their accreditation as agents in rugby is decided by the Players Association, which is funded by the NZRU.
Porter has declined to comment to the media on the case, although New Zealand Rugby general manager rugby Neil Sorenson told Devlin Radio Sport that they have sought their own advice on the matter.
“Our advice, when we took him on, was that he was actually free to play,” Sorenson said.
“If we are told he isn’t free to play, then he won’t be part of the rugby environment.
“We are definitely not walking all over anybody. What needs sorting here is that Etene and his lawyers and his managers and his people need to sort out once and for all what contracts he’s signed and where.
“It is up to him and his team. They need to sort that really quickly. We would welcome him if he was available. They are just sorting through that now.
“It will all be sorted out in a couple of days. He will either be available for other sports or he has to stick with the Warriors. Whichever way that goes we will absolutely be comfortable with that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments