Editor,

It is sad to see and read the plight that Tongan Rugby is spiraling into yet another time warp back to the past. It seems like greed and money is the objective of this power struggle of the Rugby Committee and the players are affected in someway or another.

The likes of the 2011 RWC in NZ is going to be a very big step with the first game against the All Blacks in Eden Park which would be the opening of the tournament. Either committee should treat this serious and start being more professional in their approach. Their build up towards the RWC should be paramount because Tonga does not have to qualify because of their fantastic RWC we saw in France a couple of years ago. In saying that, preparation after that tournament has been dismal and a lot of controversial garbage of spit fights who is going to be the king of the hill.

My challenge to these board members is to unite fast, forget the past, start a clean slate and let's see results. No more excuses, just do the job but a proper job. No more photo opportunities for the press but actual results. Out with the old and come up with new ideas that once was always thought of, thinking out of the box.

What Nili Latu and Hale T Pole expressed was correct, it wasn't about politics, it was about an industrial dispute because their time to play for Tonga comes as a price as professional rugby players and I support that fully. Tonga has to know you have to spend a dollar to earn a dollar. End of the days of amateur rugby where you would ask you boss time off and the wife had to have a second job to support the weeks he is gone on rugby tours. Rugby Union has evolved to a more vast professional make up involving legal body rules per country, insurance etc etc.

Tonga has lost two of the most finest rugby players in a long time. A captain that can talk in good spoken English and Tongan to the commentators overseas and that gets bums to the seats and overseas sponsors to support you. The Tongan Team is no longer full of farmers and police officers in the 80's & 90's. The Tongan team are filled with top tier Professional Rugby Players from perspective countries. So in light of this, value their commitment and time to play for Tonga and pay them accordingly, if you pay for a lemon you will get a lemon.

After the last RWC in France and what Nili Latu and the boys did to Tongan Rugby has exponentially lifted the profile of Tongan Rugby players to the international market. The next tier or generation has now got a bench mark, this applies to the administrators or leaders of the game in Tonga is to step up and move forward to the future and stop pulling it to the past. I am the master of my fate . . . I am the captain of my soul . . . inspire us, the ball is on your court TRU.

Regards

William Mariner