Chris Rattue: Final twist to the plot

From the STRANGE BUT TRUE files ...

* The Carlos Spencer-hunting Warriors won't have had any trouble getting hold of the All Black's phone number, given that the league club's media officer Richard Becht penned Spencer's book.

A Warriors' stint would make an interesting additional chapter. This could also be the first case of a sportsman following his author around.

* At last, an explanation why rugby commentator Murray Mexted tried to give Hurricanes centre Conrad Smith 'The White Russian' nickname. Mexted claimed that Conrad was a very Russian name, although Rattue was forced to point out that it was in fact German. A reader writes that in 'Murray-speak', Conrad clearly became confused with comrade. It all makes sense now.

* The latest commentator's curse ... Stu Wilson put the hex on Blues five-eighth Tasesa Lavea when he opined "he's on a bit of a roll this kid" just a nano-second before Lavea blasted a sitter of a goalkick against an upright at Eden Park on Saturday.

* From the swings and roundabouts department: Video ref Gary Wise, who made a bizarre decision allowing a try to Chiefs lock Bernie Upton against the Cats, is presumably the same Gary Wise who Chiefs coach Ian Foster branded as "inept" two years ago.

Foster, the Waikato coach at the time, was enraged by Wise's officiating of the NPC semifinal against Wellington. A happy (for the Chiefs) irony, perhaps?

Moving forward, as Chris Moller would say ... Rattue couldn't wait to dial up the Cats website because it makes for outstanding reading at the merest sniff of an injustice against their often fallen heroes. It delivered in style.

The headline "Cheating Goddard Nails the Cats" cleverly wrapped up the story which followed.

The report read: "Aided by blatant cheating by Aussie referee Matt Goddard, the Chiefs gave the Cats a 45-14 drubbing in Hamilton on Friday. Goddard was pathetic ... "

Question: Do official websites count when it comes to criticising referees and bringing the game into disrepute?