Hugh McGahan: Monty's enforced departure is a sad farewell

Monty Betham does not deserve to be forced to leave the Warriors and it is a sad day when a player decides to leave because his own home crowd boos him. I acknowledge that I have been critical of Monty on a couple of occasions regarding some of his enforcer tactics. I make no apology for such remarks.

The remarks were confined to particular incidents and no doubt they contributed to losses for the team. But I have also been a great admirer of Monty and have made many comments expressing that.

Monty has given tremendous service to rugby league in this country and not enough has been made of this fact.

He has been a great role model who has conducted himself with poise that has set him apart from others. There has always been professionalism in his manner, a discipline born from his father and the sport of boxing.

Unfortunately Monty has been used by others within the club to

be someone those same people could not be in their own time as players. He has also been used as a mouthpiece by some to portray an image which has not been welcomed by media and fans over the last two years - in particular, his role in the Ali Lauiti'iti affair where his name was stamped on to a media release chastising Ali in his supposed walkout from the club.

As we know, Ali was forced to leave but Monty was the player spokesman at the time - which was unfair given the statements in the media release: 'We want players to stand side by side in the trenches together and if Ali can't live by this code then he is better out of the club', or words to that effect.

Monty, under normal circumstances, wouldn't have said those things as I know he, along with all the players, loved Ali like a brother.

I know Monty will dispute these comments but I think, once he is outside the influence of the club and has taken time to reflect, he will look at things a whole lot differently. Monty was destined to be a leader but not in the fashion designed for him of late.

I personally had seen him as the future captain of the club and New Zealand and that did come true for him. He received that recognition for who he was but subsequently people wanted to mould him into someone else. If he was instructed to become the enforcer for the Warriors, then I think he was misled. The Monty Betham that came through the grades and debuted in 1999 was a player who did not need to prove his toughness through intimidation tactics designed to upset the opposition. Monty IS tough and pound for pound the strongest player I've known in rugby league.

Monty deserved better treatment from those advising him in his role and we have seen a talent waste away to become a liability. Not as a player, because no matter what people think, Monty played his guts out weekly and did a great job without accolades. But his enforcer role was a burden as referees and opposition targeted Monty and it wasn't hard for Monty to oblige.

Consequently he was either penalised or suspended and faced the wrath of media and fans alike. This culminated in the chorus of boos at Ericsson Stadium to which no player wants to experience, in particular when playing at home. He did not deserve such treatment.

Good luck in England, Monty, and if Brian McCLennan wants you for the Kiwis, accept it on the proviso that a campaign commences for the real fans to shut down those who boo you.