We must instead look at the bigger picture as it relates to September 2015 and the challenge of New Zealand trying to win a Rugby World Cup tournament that is hosted away from these shores.
There is no question the hired gun SBW will be going his return to union for that specific purpose was agreed before he even left which is no different to his great NRL rival from South Sydney in Sam Burgess, who is heading back home to Bath Rugby in the hopes of convincing England coach Stuart Lancaster to give him the nod for the England union side.
So all the angry talkback callers fuming about Steve Tew and company breaking their own rules to allow the 29-year-old a free pass ahead of guys currently putting in the hard yards must accept necessity is the mother of creative sportsmanship.
After 734 days since his last rugby encounter, SBW needs to be within the New Zealand team to swiftly re-learn the systems, defensive patterns, and nuances of the 15-man code at top level.
He will remain firmly ensconced in the wider-training group, and will at most be coming off the bench for 5-15 minute cameos throughout November as he and the rest of the team get a bit of acclimatisation for what they can expect in England next year.
Expect a short Christmas break at whichever holiday resort he will then take his 94 family members, before hitting the Chiefs' Super Rugby pre-season straight from the word go in January.
It makes the most sense. After all, what integrity of the ITM Cup is there left to protect as it is slowly watered down to barely even be considered the third tier of our national rugby set-up?
This competition has been poked, prodded, moulded and deformed continuously in the name of Super Rugby and test match elbow room.
Players can apply for sabbatical rather than take part, imports jump unions to meet their latest franchise affiliations, second-string All Blacks may or may not be released to play on any given week, and the concept of playing twice in five days, which initially catered for RWC 2011, was then retained rather than booted.
As INXS said, these are just the times, and if SBW is the weapon who ensures the RWC crown is retained, then what's the point of hating on it?
Rollers are on a roll
If you want an example of grassroots success, take a close look at the above picture from Jubilee Stadium last Saturday night.
What sport pulled this decent paying crowd? NBL basketball? Netball playoffs? A North Island secondary school's event?
Nope, it was the roller derby jam with the local girls in the River City Rollers giving their Taranaki Roller Corps rivals a fair whacking in the first Wanganui-hosted contest since April.
Definitely a few more there than just the mums, dads, and best mates of the players.
I asked leader Melanie McGhie how they do it and she pointed out the tireless efforts of the players to put themselves out there at as many community events as they can, making their brand as accessible as possible.
It's true go to the Relay for Life or any major Wanganui gathering and you will see the Rollers tent, banners, and fish-net stockings in a ongoing campaign that is all put together on the smell of an oily rag.
Get your sport noticed, educate your audience as to what it's all about, throw in some entertainment value, and then watch the turnstiles start clicking over.
A lesson for all local amateur codes to follow.
