Until this year I've been in the Vatuvei camp, but the tide began to turn after that maddening display against Manly. The really frustrating part about the Wests Tigers debacle - and it was a debacle in terms of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory - is that it pulled the rug out from under all the good foundation work which had brought impressive victories against the Broncos and Roosters. Momentum lost, confidence dented, two points down the drain.
The overall formula for the Warriors is relatively straightforward: be efficient in the basics and allow the advantages in power and skill to turn this club into an unstoppable NRL force (that's why they need to show the lazy, hazy Krisnan Inu the door). Coach Brian McClennan must have thought he was making progress only to take a few steps backwards against Tim Sheens' under-powered unit.
While other clubs promote sharp wings with spectacular ways of scoring in tight situations, Vatuvei is more of a dedicated hit up merchant early in the tackle count and a target for the Warriors' cross field bombs. He does both very well but errors a la the Tigers' stuff up leave the bad outweighing the good. The Warriors have more than enough outstanding props to do most of the crash-bash work. They've got ample power in the backs with fearsome Konrad Hurrell on the rise and the big Melbourne unit Dane Nielsen on the way.
The recent NRL powerhouses have been moulded by fanatical taskmasters who demand attention to detail and discipline. The Warriors' way may allow a bit more latitude, but not the sort that should accommodate Vatuvei's continual bloopers. The time has come to celebrate Vatuvei for the wonderful-if-tainted memories, and move on.
* On form, Ali Williams wouldn't get within cooee of the All Black squad. Even Williams admitted his form was rubbish during the current Super 15 season. But new All Black coach Steve Hansen has done the sensible thing in checking out Williams for himself. At his best, Williams was close to being the No 1 lock in world rugby, especially in the linebreaking department. He also relished the big stage.
Major injuries have curtailed what would have been one of the outstanding All Black careers and I'm not sure that Williams has readjusted his way of playing as well as he might.
But it would be a brave coach who gives up on a player who was that good. The Blues scrum has been excellent for most of the season which suggests Williams is functioning well in that department, and a powerful scrum has been the bedrock of the All Blacks' game between World Cups.
Vastly experienced locks are also in short supply. Most of us would probably say the odds are against Williams prolonging his international career much further, but Hansen is certainly entitled to see for himself rather than rely on the disastrous Blues as a guide.
* Speaking of the Blues, how come Pat Lam still has a job after that shocker against the Crusaders?
The nightmare season plumbed depths unimaginable in a gutless shambles against the Crusaders, who strolled through a few training drills in putting Lam's bumblers to the sword.
Lam talks the good talk each week but nothing ever changes on match day. Lam is so befuddled that he exposed a young prop Angus Ta'avao to a job he was clearly not up to yet against a test class pack in Christchurch.
* An All Black tip: whoever plays halfback in the near future is merely keeping the jersey warm for the young Wellington whiz TJ Perenara, who will be the test No 9 for many years to come. Teenager Perenara has a rare magic to his game and more running potential than any other contender, a priceless commodity as Wallaby star Will Genia has shown.
* Without being patronising, this is an opportunity to praise our league stars in Australia who have resisted the State of Origin temptation and stayed loyal to the Kiwi cause. Anyone who has followed the media build up to tonight's opening encounter between New South Wales and Queensland will realise how overwhelming the Origin series has become.
Selection ramifications and contests dominate the headlines and discussions, far beyond anything that test football receives. In such an environment, it must be easy for players heads to be turned.
* Only time will tell if lifting in netball is sustainable as an effective tactic. It will take a lot more than that to make the game more watchable, however. As for the next move: will defenders now wear rugby-style leg strapping to provide grips for the hoist?
