Highlanders coach Tony Brown named his 23-man squad, which was missing six players who were 'unavailable' on the team sheet. Video / Photosport / Highlanders
OPINION:
"They've moved on, we've moved on," said Highlanders coach Tony Brown this week about the six players axed for the clash against the Crusaders after "breaking the team code".
The trouble here, Tony, is we haven't moved on.
In this modern age of communication, owning the narrative, owning mistakes,the Highlanders tried to sell us a dummy. Unsurprisingly no one bought it - even Silver Lake would baulk at forking out 15 per cent for that.
Brown was presented with a tricky situation. Tricky for the franchise, but straightforward for me.
A group of players, including All Black Josh Ioane, reportedly decided to kick on after a team function celebrating Aaron Smith's record 154th game. The group ended up at Ioane's house, things got rowdy and the police were called.
The players "let the team down around their standards, broke the code that we live", Brown said before adding "they've moved on, we've moved on".
I'm fascinated by the Highlanders' belief that closing their eyes and sticking their fingers in their ears whilst muttering "I can't hear you", will result in the media and the public shrugging their shoulders and "moving on" from the latest drama at the southern franchise.
Front foot ball. The Highlanders had the opportunity to own this, to show leadership and lay all the available cards down. They didn't.
Josh Ioane is one of six players stood down by the Highlanders for breaking team rules. Photo / Photosport
Instead, they sent an edited version of an earlier press conference to the media in a clumsy attempt to "move on" further.
Flame fanning. Putting out fire with gasoline.
Cue an upset neighbour and an interested journo. A house party, the night of a shambolic showing against the Hurricanes, and apparently, it's not the first time. There were police. And noise control.
The plot takes on a treacle-like state. Which the Highlanders now must wade through.
They tried to tell us not to touch the wet paint and now it's being smeared everywhere.
Blamestorming is a favourite pastime of the fourth estate. So, who is responsible for this mess?
The players started it, the coach commented on it, the CEO probably needs to take it on the body, but New Zealand Rugby is ultimately where the buck stops.
Highlanders head coach Tony Brown. Photo / Photosport
In the midst of attempting a massive financial bailout of the game, it is this kind of mismanagement the governing body really doesn't need, and if the Silver Lake silver bullet finds its mark, this is a situation that should not happen again.
A multi-national with its fingers in an $80 billion dollar pie simply wouldn't allow for this type of ham-fisted handling of a key cog in its shiny new acquisition.
Easy fix really. Stand up. Fess up. The more we are told there is nothing to see, the deeper we'll look.
