Now, there are few people in New Zealand sports more annoying than Jonah Lomu's manager Phil Kingsley-Jones. This Welsh Svengali has garnered quite a reputation for himself ever since he virtually took over Jonah's life eight years ago. Most of what the motor-mouth Kingsley-Jones comes out with is unmitigated bullshit; his is a temperament glib and overbearing at the same time; it's quite possible
he earned Jonah - and himself! - most of that huge salary simply because the adidas and NZRFU negotiators wanted him out of their freaking hair.
So when Kingsley-Jones went into public meltdown after the NZRFU refused to roll over his client's contract, there was little sympathy for him. The public love Jonah, of course; but most of us have a deep suspicion of his manager.
The New Zealand Herald ran this John Roughan article a couple of days ago. Though much of it is very good, Mr Roughan is unfortunately guilty of some astonishing misjudgments and glaring errors. This writer, i.e. moi, has been impertinent enough to point the worst of these out in
several footnotes.
several footnotes.
NOW READ ON....
It's all over for Jonah - let the myth fade away
by JOHN ROUGHAN
25.10.2003
[corrections and emendations by MORRISSEY BREEN]
When Jonah Lomu's All Black boat was burned this week the legend ended
much as it began - in pure farce. The first time I saw Lomu on
television he was playing for Wesley College in a secondary school
tournament. If a school team possesses a big boy who can run and
break tackles they invariably put him at second five-eighth and that
is where Jonah was playing that day.
by JOHN ROUGHAN
25.10.2003
[corrections and emendations by MORRISSEY BREEN]
When Jonah Lomu's All Black boat was burned this week the legend ended
much as it began - in pure farce. The first time I saw Lomu on
television he was playing for Wesley College in a secondary school
tournament. If a school team possesses a big boy who can run and
break tackles they invariably put him at second five-eighth and that
is where Jonah was playing that day.
Each time Wesley got the ball they moved it to the second five who set
sail on a long curving run to the corner, tacklers falling from him
for reasons that were hard to fathom. He didn't appear particularly
fast [1] and he certainly wasn't elusive. [2]
sail on a long curving run to the corner, tacklers falling from him
for reasons that were hard to fathom. He didn't appear particularly
fast [1] and he certainly wasn't elusive. [2]
The first time he scored, the television commentator was mildly
impressed. When, immediately from the restart, it happened again, the
commentator was amazed. When it happened a third time he was
enthralled. At the fourth rerun, he was gasping, at the next he was
laughing. Thereafter, as the pattern was repeated, he tried to find
something interesting to say. The boy obviously had a big future.
impressed. When, immediately from the restart, it happened again, the
commentator was amazed. When it happened a third time he was
enthralled. At the fourth rerun, he was gasping, at the next he was
laughing. Thereafter, as the pattern was repeated, he tried to find
something interesting to say. The boy obviously had a big future.
Fast forward 10 years. The boy's career has had its moments but they
were oddly rare. Jonah in full gallop to the tryline was an awesome
sight and the mere possibility could draw people to his appearances.
But they came to realise they might as well watch the heavens for a
shooting star. They could turn up for an entire season and never see
it.
were oddly rare. Jonah in full gallop to the tryline was an awesome
sight and the mere possibility could draw people to his appearances.
But they came to realise they might as well watch the heavens for a
shooting star. They could turn up for an entire season and never see
it.
Jonah, we were eventually told, had been carrying a debilitating
kidney disease since 1996. For the past two years he has barely
played. Yet all that time he has had a contract with the New Zealand
Rugby Football Union that paid him far more than any active member of
the national team. The contract expires at the end of this World Cup
season and the Rugby Football Union has offered him no more than the
standard rate for a senior All Black next year, provided he can, in
fact, play.
kidney disease since 1996. For the past two years he has barely
played. Yet all that time he has had a contract with the New Zealand
Rugby Football Union that paid him far more than any active member of
the national team. The contract expires at the end of this World Cup
season and the Rugby Football Union has offered him no more than the
standard rate for a senior All Black next year, provided he can, in
fact, play.
The man who has burned Jonah's boat, his manager Phil Kingsley Jones,
decided the offer was "unacceptable and embarrassin' and insultin'.
decided the offer was "unacceptable and embarrassin' and insultin'.
"I was embarrassed to show it to Jonah," said Mr Kingsley Jones in a
Welsh accent the country has come to know painfully well. Whenever
I've heard it over the years I have had the distinct impression this
man has taken us for a nation of fools. [3]
Welsh accent the country has come to know painfully well. Whenever
I've heard it over the years I have had the distinct impression this
man has taken us for a nation of fools. [3]
His radio and television interviews this week reached high farce. You
would suppose, if you didn't listen closely, that the offer was
embarrassin' because Jonah is in no condition to play rugby and hasn't
been for some time. But no.
would suppose, if you didn't listen closely, that the offer was
embarrassin' because Jonah is in no condition to play rugby and hasn't
been for some time. But no.
"That is his problem, nobody else's," said Mr KJ. "He will not let it
get in the way of team training or his ability to be there and
available."
get in the way of team training or his ability to be there and
available."
All he was askin' for now was a six-month extension of the present
contract "on the same wages he's been on for the last four years". It
would be "a chance to see whether he could get back to where we want
him to be, where Jonah believes he can be, that's playing rugby ... "
contract "on the same wages he's been on for the last four years". It
would be "a chance to see whether he could get back to where we want
him to be, where Jonah believes he can be, that's playing rugby ... "
If you didn't listen closely you might have missed the Rugby Football
Union chief executive Steve Tew mention that Jonah is now on dialysis
four hours a day, six days a week. That didn't faze Mr KJ. "Jonah has
put a dialysis machine in his home [and] one in his apartment in
Wellington. He has indicated he will work around that."
Union chief executive Steve Tew mention that Jonah is now on dialysis
four hours a day, six days a week. That didn't faze Mr KJ. "Jonah has
put a dialysis machine in his home [and] one in his apartment in
Wellington. He has indicated he will work around that."
The issue, he insisted, was not the illness but the rate of pay. "I
earn more money doing after dinner speaking than the NZRU have offered
Jonah Lomu to play rugby. He could play two exhibition games overseas
and come back with more money than what the NZRU are offering him. You
tell me any guy in this world would accept that?"
earn more money doing after dinner speaking than the NZRU have offered
Jonah Lomu to play rugby. He could play two exhibition games overseas
and come back with more money than what the NZRU are offering him. You
tell me any guy in this world would accept that?"
Well, yes, except that he can't play, he's sick.
That was irrelevant, replied Mr KJ, the offer was made on the basis
that he is able to play. And he is right; the union assessed Jonah's
continuing worth to New Zealand rugby as a fully fit player and
decided to offer him no more than other senior All Blacks. To anybody
but Mr Kingsley Jones that assessment of Jonah's contribution could
seem extremely flattering.
that he is able to play. And he is right; the union assessed Jonah's
continuing worth to New Zealand rugby as a fully fit player and
decided to offer him no more than other senior All Blacks. To anybody
but Mr Kingsley Jones that assessment of Jonah's contribution could
seem extremely flattering.
But according to Mr KJ, it is "less than a third of what he is getting
paid" and Jonah could earn far more if he was not restricted by an
NZRU contract.
paid" and Jonah could earn far more if he was not restricted by an
NZRU contract.
"He could do personal appearances, after dinner speaking. He could
take the offers of film work he was offered in the past. We're doing
a cartoon series with South Pacific Pictures. We did Whale Rider with
Andy Shaw. They're doing a cartoon series of Jonah Lomu The World
Rugby Star in a cartoon superhero series ... "
take the offers of film work he was offered in the past. We're doing
a cartoon series with South Pacific Pictures. We did Whale Rider with
Andy Shaw. They're doing a cartoon series of Jonah Lomu The World
Rugby Star in a cartoon superhero series ... "
Mr Kingsley Jones has long had us believe that he sits daily on the
end of a telephone batting away lucrative endorsement offers from big
global brands because Jonah is "hamstrung" by a sense of selfless
loyalty to New Zealand, the All Black jersey and the greater glory of
rugby football.
end of a telephone batting away lucrative endorsement offers from big
global brands because Jonah is "hamstrung" by a sense of selfless
loyalty to New Zealand, the All Black jersey and the greater glory of
rugby football.
In fact, Mr Kingsley Jones' company "Number 11 Management" has
negotiated more promotional freedom than any other player contracted
to the NZRU. In an interview with the Herald two years ago he said the
union actually has to get permission from Number 11 management to
include Jonah in any promotion.
negotiated more promotional freedom than any other player contracted
to the NZRU. In an interview with the Herald two years ago he said the
union actually has to get permission from Number 11 management to
include Jonah in any promotion.
The team clothing sponsor, adidas, had a representative assigned
solely to travel with him for marketing opportunities. That probably
tells many rugby followers how he came to be selected for some tours.
solely to travel with him for marketing opportunities. That probably
tells many rugby followers how he came to be selected for some tours.
At home Jonah is carefully promoted as one of the team; overseas he
can be a solo superstar. [4] They say that overseas he is bigger than
the All Blacks. [5] But listening to Mr Kingsley Jones' anguish this
week, I think we can conclude he needs the All Black association more
than the All Blacks needed Jonah.
can be a solo superstar. [4] They say that overseas he is bigger than
the All Blacks. [5] But listening to Mr Kingsley Jones' anguish this
week, I think we can conclude he needs the All Black association more
than the All Blacks needed Jonah.
He has had a charmed career. It's over. I hope we hear no more from
his manager. [6] What suckers we have been. [7]
his manager. [6] What suckers we have been. [7]
..............................
[1] Roughan is not very perceptive. Lomu at his peak was dazzlingly
quick. I've seen footage of that schoolboy sevens tourney and lomu
stood out for his speed on a field full of extra-fast young men.
quick. I've seen footage of that schoolboy sevens tourney and lomu
stood out for his speed on a field full of extra-fast young men.
[2] Hilariously, Roughan goes on to describe how Lomu magically
eluded the opposition every time he touched the ball. Stodgy mortals
like Roughan would never appreciate the extraordinary gifts of someone
like Lomu.
eluded the opposition every time he touched the ball. Stodgy mortals
like Roughan would never appreciate the extraordinary gifts of someone
like Lomu.
[3] A certain proportion of this nation ARE fools. Where was Roughan
during the 1999 World Cup when a small number of arrogant
"journalists" were insisting that the All Blacks had merely to show up
to defeat.... (wait for it!).... FRANCE???!!!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!! One of
the "journalists" responsible for treating the fans like fools over
that sorry and embarrassing period was one Wynne ("Sensible") Gray,
who was, and incredibly still is, the football writer for the .... New
Zealand Herald. That genius wrote, on the day before the semi-final,
that a "huge" win to the All Blacks was the "only sensible
prediction". Maybe, to be charitable, he'd suffered a brain explosion
and thought we were playing Uruguay or Zimbabwe....
during the 1999 World Cup when a small number of arrogant
"journalists" were insisting that the All Blacks had merely to show up
to defeat.... (wait for it!).... FRANCE???!!!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!! One of
the "journalists" responsible for treating the fans like fools over
that sorry and embarrassing period was one Wynne ("Sensible") Gray,
who was, and incredibly still is, the football writer for the .... New
Zealand Herald. That genius wrote, on the day before the semi-final,
that a "huge" win to the All Blacks was the "only sensible
prediction". Maybe, to be charitable, he'd suffered a brain explosion
and thought we were playing Uruguay or Zimbabwe....
[4] Nonsense. Lomu is famous as a great ALL BLACK. Roughan is
either dishonest or ignorant in claiming that he stands apart from the
team.
either dishonest or ignorant in claiming that he stands apart from the
team.
[5] Who is "they"? Answer: Phil Kingsley Jones. Roughan is
unwittingly quoting Mr KJ even as he attacks him.
unwittingly quoting Mr KJ even as he attacks him.
[6] Amen to that.
[7] See the comments by this writer (moi) in footnote [3].
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/nz.general/Zjvi8d0K4pI/E6M7Pu3QSpkJ;context-place=msg/nz.general/dUD4E9w51_I/ob6rK9KqxcQJ
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