JUNE/JULY 2015 // NZ RUGBY WORLD //
37
RIGHT CHOICE
Steven Luatua says his
father has a major
influence on his career
decision making.
consideration for most Pacific Island players are
totally different to those which affect the thinking of
their Palangi peers.
Money is important – not because of any desire to
have individual material wealth, but because players
accept their role as bread winner for the wider family
and understand the breadth of impact a bigger salary
can have.
“I can remember my first ITM Cup contract in 2004
– there were a lot of hands out,” says Soakai. “When I
decided to go overseas I had mortgages to pay off and
going to Japan was a big factor in that.”
As the youngest of 10 children, Piutau, had he
stayed in New Zealand beyond this year could
have continued to be a good provider. But Ulster
were offering $1 million a season and that kind of
money will make a huge difference to the wider
Piutau family.
His personal ambition of being an All Black has
been a casualty of his decision but how can he
complain about sacrifice to his parents of all people?
Maybe, too, there was a little conflicting piece of
Piutau that wanted to set himself free. He’s 23, a
regular All Black and a leader within the Blues and yet
at home he’s baby Charles. As Leo’o says of his own
experience: “It doesn’t matter who you think you are
or what you become, to the family you are always the
same person. It was a relief when I got to leave home
and get my freedom.”
Freedom doesn’t necessarily mean the right to miss
the odd day at church or buy something indulgent and
frivolous for the sheer fun of it. Freedom in this sense
is holistic.
Maybe not surprisingly, with young men still living
at home, decision making for Pacific Island players
can sit more with their father than themselves.
Piutau’s good friend Steven Luatua made his
decision to stay in New Zealand until 2017 a week
after the former chose to sign with Ulster. “A lot of
consultation goes on in my house,” says Luatua.
“With my upbringing whatever dad said went but
generally, he was kind of right. I can’t remember
whenever he told me to do something that I didn’t
want to do that wasn’t for my benefit. A lot of that
happens in Samoan households...the father might
dominate the household but generally they are not
trying to steer you in the wrong direction.” Again,
how much does this differ to their European peers?
The freedoms and responsibilities that are inherent
in one upbringing are not prevalent in another. One
career path does not fit all. There is not one righteous
path with all other roads leading to Hell.
Professionalism is 20 years old and yet it sometimes
feels like it hasn’t even begun.
[ path finders ]
