When will the early exodus end in rugby?

Second thoughts, by KELLY EXELBY
When is a contract not worth the paper it's written on? Apparently, when it is a contract countersigned by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Bay of Plenty's Aleki Lutui this week joined a growing list of players given early releases from their NZRU contracts to take up fat overseas payolas.
I've got no problem with Lutui upping pegs and making the ubiquitous dash for cash. At 28, he's not getting any younger and has been massive for the Steamers since he burst on to the provincial scene (out of Opotiki of all places) six years ago.
But for my mind, a contract's still a contract. Lutui should have been told to stay and finish out the season for the Steamers before jetting off to get his pension in the UK.
Interestingly, the Steamers players were said to be supportive of Lutui's sudden departure. I'd be surprised _ while they stay back and slog it out in the Air NZ Cup, playing for their livelihoods, their teammate's shooting the gap.
Lutui is the latest in a queue that now contains contemporaries such as Justin Marshall, Carlos Spencer, Deacon Manu, Xavier Rush and Sam Broomhall, although his exodus was being plotted months ago. The Bay union threw Lutui's request to the New Zealand Rugby Union to decide but got an unexpected hospital pass in return. Instead of putting their foot down, the NZRU dithered, scratched their heads and tossed it back to the Bay to sort out.
On a minor level the Bay are doing the right thing by cutting Lutui loose _ it's gotta be tough tying a guy down who doesn't want to be here. But they could have shown some backbone and told the Tongan international he was staying until his contract was up. Lutui's been a loyal employee but really, just what do we owe him?
On the issue of player exodus, will the rumours of Waikato's seemingly annual raids on Bay of Plenty's player stocks ever abate?
This week the drums have been quietly beating that one, and possibly two, Steamers players _ both wearing single-digit numbers on their backs tonight _ have been lined up by our close neighbour and supposed Chiefs ally Waikato. Expect the volume to ratchet up in the coming months.
One of the players is reportedly considering a hard-and-fast offer, as well as one from another union, while the other has been sounded out about moving once his Bay contract lapses in a few months.
In this professional age, where money trumps loyalty, it hardly takes a Rhodes scholar to do the maths. But for once it'd be nice if the poacher wasn't sneaking around in the undergrowth wearing red, yellow and black.
Pillage the poor cousins from over the hill seems to be the objective. Sure, they loaned us Rua Tipoki two seasons ago after John Mitchell put him in the too-hard-to-handle basket, but all Bay ever seem to get in return is Mooloo discards.
For once, is it too much to ask that they acted for the common good of the entire region?