Deans warns about false god of money

Robbie Deans laughs down the line from Japan when asked if his love of winning, or hatred of losing, has decreased with age.

‘‘No,’’ he said. ‘‘On both fronts. ‘‘Because over time, you come to understand how much is involved in just putting yourself in that position. And for that reason, you don’t like to come second when you do put yourself in that position.’’

Deans, now 62, is in ‘‘that position’’ yet again. His side, Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, will play Suntory in the final of Japan Rugby League One tomorrow.

If Saitama win, it will be Deans’ fifth title in Japan, recreating his success with the Crusaders in the 2000s.

But, it’s not the topic of the professional game, or the subject of crossborder club competitions, that brings a passionate and fretful response from Deans: it’s what’s happening beneath that level.

‘‘The health of the game ultimately won’t just be those competitions of interests,’’ Deans said.

‘‘It’s their last game, but because we’re playing at their home they won’t back down, they’ll try and impress the supporters, so they’ll play their best this week.’’

Knowing a thing or two about playing their best is indeed Sowakula, who’s put this season’s fine form down to being a new dad.

Making the trip back to his home town even more special, then, is having his partner and seven-month old Lavenia-Rangi by his side for a surprise first meeting of his daughter for his family back home.

Sowakula’s mother and grandmother live in Lautoka, along with his five younger brothers and two younger sisters (half-siblings included), who are keen school and club rugby players in their own right and were to be treated to new pairs of rugby boots which their older brother had ensured he packed in his luggage for Thursday’s flight.

Sowakula’s uncle and aunty, who he counts as his ‘‘parents’’ – now live in Sigatoka but will also form part of the crew cheering him on at Churchill Park – a ground he has played at during his school and club days, last setting foot on it in 2012.

‘‘I’m really looking forward to seeing the family,’’ said Sowakula,

‘‘The health of the game will be making sure that the grassroots – this most misunderstood term – is producing players, and can continue to produce players that are able to follow that pathway.

‘‘The motivation can’t just be the

who was hoping for a heap of tickets from his team-mates to help out both he and fellow Fijian Emoni Narawa, and who has again sorted a bus for the village to hop aboard to the ground.

Indeed, this is Sowakula’s third time in Fiji with the Chiefs. In his maiden campaign he was a nonplaying member of the side which beat the Highlanders in Suva, then he was part of the all-action comeback win over the Crusaders in the capital the following year.

The family were at those games, too, but this time, back where he was born and spent much of his childhood, is more momentous.

‘‘It’s pretty cool to go back there,’’ Sowakula said, of a fixture which was only late in the making, having originally been scheduled for Australia’s Gold Coast.

‘‘It was pretty funny, we were still in Aussie [last month], we were just in the hotel, and my family messaged me from back home telling me that we were actually playing in Fiji.

‘‘They were the ones that actually broke the news to us.

‘‘So I was shocked.’’ Having moved to Sigatoka for primary school, Sowakula returned, on his own, to the country’s secondlargest top end, in the professional game, it’s got to be the health of the game, top to bottom.’’

He goes further. ‘‘There is a bit of an obsession at the moment with money,’’ he said. ‘‘Money creates problems, more than solves.

city to attend Central College Lautoka, where he stayed with his mum’s older sister.

Due to basketball opportunities, he transferred to Suva Grammar for his final term of school, then earned himself a job as a chef at Hideaway Resort near Sigatoka.

‘‘I’ve started to lose the cooking skills now,’’ Sowakula admitted.

But while his kitchen exploits may not be what they were, his rugby feats have instead taken over, after plunging well outside his comfort zone half a dozen years ago in making the move overseas, to now all of a sudden bringing up a half century with the Chiefs.

‘‘It was a bit of a struggle when I first came,’’ he said.

‘‘I never imagined that I would come this far.

‘‘But I’m just grateful for the opportunity.’’

‘‘Look at the English football Premiership. None of those clubs make a profit. They just spend more. So the underlying question is, ‘What is your reason for being, your place in the game?’ Master that, and then the game will be in good health.’’

It’s a question rugby administrators must answer as the provincial unions prepare to vote on the proposed NZ Rugby-Silver Lake deal at a special general meeting in Auckland next Thursday.

Professional players will benefit if Silver Lake delivers on its revenue targets, but somewhat paradoxically the deal has been sold by NZ Rugby as essential for the long-neglected grassroots, the clubs.

When asked if that pitch struck him as genuine, Deans had a firm message for those in power.

‘‘It has to be,’’ he said. ‘‘Ultimately, decisions will be made, and they’ll have consequences.

‘‘I have no doubt there’ll be lots of conversations, and it’s the role of those who are in governance to cater for the future of the game. That’s leadership. Leadership is catering for beyond your term in power in the position you’re in.’’