Aslightly comical side of the NRL has been exposed since the Warriors revealed their signing of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Almost daily, powerful elements of the Sydney media have criticised the move and warned that Tuivasa-Sheck would probably be persuaded to stick with the Roosters.
The Channel Nine commentary team have waded in on the subject, with Matthew Johns and Phil Gould two of the more vocal critics.
This is no coincidence — it's what happens when a New Zealand club takes on the establishment, and one of the the most powerful franchises in the game.
The Roosters have huge influence in the sport, and Gould and Johns seem to be using their platforms to reflect the club's views.
A week before the Tuivasa-Sheck signing was announced, Gould was calling the Kiwis winger one of the best players in the sport. Days later, he said the high price put on Tuivasa-Sheck's head had "the potential to throw the market into meltdown".
Meanwhile, Johns feared the 21-year-old would never realise his potential in Auckland and Fox Sports bizarrely listed Feleti Mateo and Krisnan Inu as examples of the perils of moving to Mt Smart.
It's become almost laughable. When Daly Cherry-Evans decided to shift to the Titans, a club in a mess on and off the field, there was no outcry that the career of the Queensland and Kangaroos half was heading downhill.
Since Kieran Foran pledged his future to Parramatta, there have been no earnest warnings to the Eels that Manly will try to change his mind.
Matthew Johns.
But the Roosters are league royalty, with friends in high places. Look what happened on transfer deadline day last year. After the Bondi club had already made several unsuccessful attempts to register Blake Ferguson's contract, a huge feature story appeared in the
Daily Telegraph
outlining how he had turned around his life. Great timing.
The Roosters are used to getting what they want, and can't stomach that they have been outmanoeuvred on this occasion.
And don't shed a tear for the Roosters for all the time and effort they have apparently invested in Tuivasa-Sheck. They have profited from plenty of players developed by other clubs over the decades, from Brad Fittler, Craig Wing and Craig Fitzgibbon, to Terry Hill, Todd Carney and Daniel Tupou.
Tuivasa-Sheck has made his decision, carefully considered and based on a whole number of factors. He has weighed up the financial rewards, no doubt, but must also feel the Warriors are heading in the right direction. He deserves to be treated with respect, rather than like a kid who has lost his marbles.
