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Lomu is no loser All Blacks winger strikes it rich after World Cup
Posted: Wednesday November 03, 1999 03:30 PM
What price does failure carry at this World Cup? Well if you go by the name of Jonah Lomu, the cost of a semifinal defeat was a little easier to bear than most. Despite finishing on the losing side against the French, the giant winger was the one All Blacks player to come up smelling like roses. His two tries against 'Les Bleus' once again demonstrating his devastating attacking flair. Though at times he's defensively frail, when advancing Lomu is worth his weight in gold, giving him a reputation on which he'll shortly be able to capitalize.
As of next month, when his contract runs out in New Zealand, Lomu is a free agent, which leaves him in the enviable position of being able to name his price. Saturday's timely reminder of his pace and power will surely up the ante considerably. With a host of rugby union, and rugby league clubs clamoring for his services, the biggest name in the sport has been put on a par with a Hollywood movie-star by one of those interested in signing him. The owner of English club, Saracens, Nigel Wray said, "To be fair to Lomu, if Tom Cruise gets millions for making a film, why isn't he worth that too? Because he is a world star." Sadly for Saracens, the salary cap on First Division clubs in England means they're unlikely to be allowed to offer the Kiwi a starring role, even though they can afford to meet an asking price, unprecedented in rugby union, of two million pounds over four years. Despite the restrictions in England however, there are certainly others perhaps prepared to pay even more than that to land the big prize, raising the prospect of a bidding war the like of which rugby has never seen.
Will this be good for the game? Well in my view to an extent it will. As many a would-be entrepreneur would testify, you often need to spend money to make money, and you can guarantee putting Lomu on the wing will add a sizeable chunk to the gate receipts, while the potential for spin-off earnings is huge. On the other hand though, no one in his right mind would like to see salaries in rugby spiral out of control the way they have in soccer, where only the strong, in other words the rich, can really survive at the highest levels. So good luck to Jonah in his quest to cash in on his fame, and good luck to the club that eventually gets to sign him. But let's keep our eyes wide open. Jonah Lomu is a one-off, and I would not like to see his massive salary set a precedent for every Harry, Dick or Tom, who thinks they're a top gun. Terry Baddoo is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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