Graham Lowe: What was Faumuina thinking?

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky but is it just me or is the sporting world going mad?

In the past fortnight we've seen Justin Gatlin, the world's fastest man, and cyclist Floyd Landis allegedly tickling up their testosterone levels in all-consuming bids for fame and glory (not to mention money).

Ex-All Black Stephen Bachop is handcuffed and marched off an international flight for his drunken antics in mid-air.

Australia's spinmeister, Shane Warne, has an estimated aggregate of 1000 between the sheets to go with his record-breaking efforts on the pitch.

By comparison then, the shameful behaviour of Warriors second-rower Sione Faumuina at a testimonial lunch last week for one of the game's genuine nice guys, Awen Guttenbeil, should pale into insignificance.

Faumuina has nowhere near the ranking that any of the above have reached in their chosen sports, and his crude outburst during the function demonstrated to many that he never will have.

But this was not the first sign of the young man's troublesome behaviour, and I wouldn't bet on it being the last.

To exacerbate the situation, Faumuina saw fit to have a swipe last weekend at not only his club coach Ivan Cleary, but also the Kiwi coach Brian McClennan over his non-selection in last year's triumphant Tri-Nations Kiwis.

Am I missing something? If you want to make a career-ending statement, this was probably as close as it could come.

In years gone by, players attracted the attention of national selectors by showing skill, and character, not by telling them how good they thought they were, and how much they believed they deserved to be selected.

On that basis, if I was a Warriors or Kiwi coach, I'd be only too pleased to help Faumuina out by sending him straight back the same way he came in.

Whoever is giving the young man advice on presentation needs to go back to How To Avoid Being A Meathead School. And Faumuina should take his injury-enforced, season-ending break to contemplate his future as a footballer and a person.

What's more, he should be thanking his lucky stars that Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah and Cleary have kept a place open for him at the club next year.

Because if I was the coach, Faumuina would be kissing Mt Smart Stadium goodbye for good.

For mine, he's become a serial pain in the proverbial for the front office.

Footy teams don't need players of doubtful character - they'll almost certainly let you down at crucial times.

You'd have to conclude anyone who doesn't know how to conduct himself properly at an occasion to honour one of the best of New Zealand footballers - and in front of an audience that includes two others in Mark Graham and Hugh McGahan - is an ongoing risk to the club.

I'm no bleeding heart when it comes to coaching. I want the best players ALL the time. But I have been around long enough to know that character flaws are usually magnified when it comes to the tough times in a game.

It's a constant dilemma for coaches to make up their minds on players and whether or not they have the character required.

I'm not for a moment suggesting you need to pick goody two shoes. In most cases, those types can also be a pain in the backside.

I well remember when we signed Mathew Ridge at Manly. I had plenty of people wanting to tell me bad stories about him and a few certainly caused me to raise my eyebrows.

So we put Mathew under plenty of pressure when he arrived at the club and, to his credit, he came through with flying colours. And I must say, he never ever once let me down on or off the field.

I agree he wasn't everyone's cup of tea (a fact he is honest enough to admit himself) but he delivered the qualities I was looking for in a player.

The Australian cricket team has proven itself to be consistently one of the best sporting teams in the world.

But even their selectors have shown they are prepared to overlook any need for their players to have good character off the field, when they choose their team.

Excusing behaviour that is unacceptable in society because someone has a natural sporting talent is, in my opinion, no different to condoning drug cheating.

Superstar spin bowler Shane Warne's career is littered with behavioural problems that would probably rule out a club cricketer from his local side.

But Warne is not a local club cricketer. He is a spin-bowling genius who spearheaded the Australian bowling attack for a long time.

Because he is a great player in the test arena his off-field behaviour is overlooked. Why? Because he can just about guarantee a test win on his own.

All coaches are faced with the dilemma of whether to choose a player of good strong character but with maybe not quite the ability or another of questionable character.

Talent in most cases takes hours of training to develop but some are blessed with a natural talent.

But a coach needs a player he can rely on and it is those of strong character who usually come through.

I've seen glimpses of genuine talent in Sione Faumuina. It's a talent his club could use next season.

But he has stepped over the line too often with the Warriors and needs to find a club that will take a long hard look at his promises to behave.

The Warriors have another tough battle on their hands this weekend against the Sharks.

Cleary has been forced to make some key changes but I'm still expecting a strong performance from them. He will have worked hard reminding them of just how much they allowed themselves to slip against the Panthers, and I can't see it happening again tomorrow night.

The Sharks have had their own demons and after five straight losses look like dropping out of the top eight.

Motivation will be the key to this game along with the kicking game battle between the halves.

The flat passing game of the Sharks can be put under plenty of pressure from up and in defence.

I'm expecting this defence from the Warriors to force mistakes for cheap turnovers.

But Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley does have the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck and turn it into a nightmare for the Warriors.

So it promises to be a great contest of evenly matched sides.

This week's Fox Memorial has a couple of crunch games as clubs fight for a position in the top four.

In middle-of-the-table contests, Te Atatu are up against Otahuhu and Mangere East take on Marist.

Te Atatu's form has been good recently but home ground advantage at Henham Park might give Otahuhu the edge.

Marist also have the benefit of a home game at Halberg Park, but Mangere East should be too strong here and keep their finals hopes alive.

Mt Albert, who are set to take out the minor premiership, ought to continue their winning way against Northcote at Birkenhead Domain.

The final match has East Coast Bays at home to fast improving Papakura.

I'm picking Papakura to win that one comfortably.