Big names continue to leave Auckland

Mils Muliaina is unlikely to be followed out of Auckland by any other big names, which should go some way towards dousing escalating theories of player discontent within the province.

Ali Williams, Sam Tuitupou, Ben Atiga, Daniel Braid and Jerome Kaino are all expected to re-sign with the province after being offered contracts thought to be at the very top end of the pay scale. Anthony Koonwaiyou wants to stay but is examining alternative offers so he can win more game time on the wing.

Agents representing Auckland players have no knowledge of any player discontent and say nearly all their clients have stated a strong desire to stay in the City of Sails.

Confirmation that Muliaina will play for Waikato next season follows the recent departures of Sione Lauaki, Mose Tuiali'i, Kees Meeuws, Carlos Spencer and Xavier Rush.

To lose six All Blacks looks more like carelessness than bad luck. When talented players are tripping over themselves to join other New Zealand provinces, it's a hint there's an undercurrent of discontent.

That theory will always be hard for Auckland chief executive David White to dispel.

We're talking about Auckland, after all, the province everyone outside the city loves to hate. People want to believe there is scandal dogging the Auks and there has been plenty to fuel the fires.

Spencer refused a farewell in Auckland colours against the Lions and Muliaina turned down the most lucrative contract ever offered by Auckland.

The fact that so many of the current squad are ready to commit suggests it's a case of players having individual grievances rather than there being something rotten at Auckland's core.

White offers alternative reasons for the exodus. The likes of Tuiali'i and Lauaki were not necessarily wanting to get away from Auckland. They wanted away from the Blues.

Super 12 is the real playground of the ambitious. That's the place to showcase your wares and there is no question that the Blues have always been the toughest squad to make.

The New Zealand Rugby Union only allows a franchise to protect 24 players. The Blues select from Auckland, North Harbour and Northland, which is why there was no room for the likes of Lauaki, Tuiali'i, Craig Newby, Nick Evans, Rico Gear, Hosea Gear and Anthony Tuitavake.

"The crazy thing is now, if you transfer an All Black for example, who is in the starting XV, they will maybe play four NPC games in 2006 and none in 2007," said White.

"So from a provincial union point of view the investment is crazy. Clearly people are doing it for franchise-based reasons. And the crazy thing is they are already being paid by the NZRU to play for that franchise.

"Getting Super 12 football, that's the challenge, definitely for the Harbour players I would say. They want guaranteed Super 12 places but you can't do it when you have three first division unions competing for places and we can only protect 24.

"So people weigh up their options and head to Dunedin. Players will always move from Auckland because we have a lot of players and we just can't cater for everyone. We have the biggest population and player base so that's going to happen."

The uncertainty about next year's salary cap isn't helping the cause either. Auckland has the highest wage bill and will have to make savings to fit under the proposed cap of $2.3 million next year.

The uncertainty is making players nervous and keen to assess their options. The success of the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Chiefs has left Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato cash-rich. They also have room to manoeuvre before they reach the proposed cap.

White said: "Players want to see the outcome of collective negotiations and, if there's going to be a salary cap, at what level? A lot of them are waiting to see what happens and that makes it very difficult for us.

"We have made a number of offers to players but they are waiting to see and the whole market is doing that at the moment. The longer it goes the more uncertainty there is.

"Possibly players are thinking they might not be able to get what they want from Auckland because of the cap but I hope that isn't the case. I would like to think we fairly remunerate players and potentially this is a big issue for us."

White can be relatively relaxed about the high turnover at the top end as every year the school and age-grade systems churn out replacement superstars.

But he'd rather have his cake and eat it and hold on to more big names and bring through the home-developed youngsters.

At the moment, Auckland are struggling to see the incentive to develop players.

The arbitrary restriction of only protecting 24 players would appear to be the real source of discontent at Auckland.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY