Boys who cried 'more'

By CHRIS RATTUE

There was probably little point in Oliver asking for more as the World Cup bonus wrangle unfolded.

Anton Oliver is on the All Blacks outer, and out of pocket as well. And unless injury strikes Keven Mealamu or Mark Hammett and John Mitchell has a change of heart, a World Cup win bonus will be as relevant to Oliver as it is to the Welsh.

The win bonuses on offer to some of the All Blacks' World Cup opposition was the catalyst for them seeking an offer of $120,000 per man.

But the former test captain's dramatic reversal of fortunes, both in playing and financial terms, hints at undercurrents which helped motivate their claim.

The players are in a "grab it while you can" environment, created because the NZRFU operate as both club and country. So while those such as Andy Haden attacked the players for a sort of last-minute extortion, the players would retort the system encourages them to make hay if the sun shines at the World Cup - especially when their employer has $26 million in reserve, made a $9.8 million profit last year, and is expecting a similar surplus this time.

Significant portions of a player's wage can suddenly disappear, and in the case of former North Harbour captain Mark Robinson, be wiped out by a national selector's pen. And unlike pro sport around the world, discarded players have no other employers to turn to in this country.

Whereas overseas clubs usually take care of the bulk of players' income in the form of guaranteed payments, the all-powerful NZRFU operates a juggling act with wages. At the same time, players' freedom to endorse products is virtually removed by the national union which must protect its own sponsors. In this light, a World Cup win bonus is a small reward for the players who are rugby's centrepiece attraction.

And in an era of much longer seasons and shorter playing careers, players such as Bruce Reihana have taken the safe financial route of going overseas, rather than taking a punt on All Blacks selection.

Unlike the Dickens character Oliver Twist, the waif who famously asked for more, Anton Oliver will never go hungry.

He and many other top players are, by New Zealand standards, well paid. But as is often stated, they face a short high-income career and maybe even more importantly, can not be assured all the money listed in their contracts will arrive, as Oliver found out this year.

The uncertainty comes in different guises. A World Cup-winning bonus is understood to have been held out to players by the NZRFU as an incentive to sign, without an amount being specified.

This is not to say the NZRFU is acting poorly. It operates in a tough environment, employing about 150 Super 12 players, and knows that News Ltd can re-negotiate the broadcasting contract - which makes up 42 per cent of its income - beyond 2005 without the pressure of competition. So some of its income is uncertain as well.

However, it is understood the NZRFU has already forced player wages down and intends trimming the contracts further. This could be why the Auckland union needed thousands of dollars from a businessman to sweeten the deal for Carlos Spencer early this year.

The top players in this country get most of their income from the NZRFU. As well, they get retainers and match fees - plus win bonuses - from their provincial unions.

Retainers range from just a few thousand dollars to around $50,000 a season for All Black stars. Auckland, for example, pay players $500 per match and $850 win fees, with extras for winning Ranfurly Shield challenges and making NPC playoffs. In a very good season, an Auckland player might collect up to $20,000 in match fees, although the World Cup All Blacks will miss out on that.

The NZRFU pay is split into two often roughly equal amounts - Super 12 (including a nominal NPC fee) and All Blacks - which is dished out in monthly instalments. The bottom line Super 12 payment is $65,000 a season, the additional All Black payment starts at $85,000.

If the current All Black players were paid out in full on their Super 12/test contracts, it is understood the range would be about $220,000 to $450,000. The average total yearly pay for the bulk of the All Blacks, again including their Super 12 money, is believed to be about $250,000.

The Super 12 money is the safest component. Unless a player is suspended - when his pay is halved - or thrown out of a squad, he gets the money whether he plays or not.

The All Blacks money is a different story. Payments are worked out on how many days players are assembled with the team. Dropping out of the assembled squad of 26, in the case of the Tri-Nations, means the payment is cut. Oliver may end up playing only three of the All Blacks' potential 14 tests this year, so apart from missing the bonuses he will end up with about a fifth of his All Blacks money. Getting dropped has cost him more than $100,000, and closer to $200,000 if the All Blacks win the Webb Ellis Cup.

The most obvious and recent example of a savage pay cut is Robinson, an All Black selection in 2001, who was initially lined up for the 2003 Blues squad then dropped. The selection bungle involving Steve Devine meant that at the age of 27, Robinson found his income prospects reduced to the loose change North Harbour can afford.

Agents say players even have trouble arranging loans because banks cannot see a long-term guaranteed income. And the payments, which are generally taxed at 39 per cent, take no account of regional differences such as much higher cost of living in Auckland.

An agent told the Herald: "Players who leave to play in Europe are not necessarily going for bigger money. Sometimes they go for less. The difference is the money is guaranteed.

"There is no certainty of income here and you can understand why. But the quid pro quo is there should be more money when you do get selected.

"None of these players are turning into millionaires."

And, say sources, the NZRFU is forcing wages down. Not only has the base Super 12 payment remained at $65,000 since the advent of professionalism, but players are finding their employer less generous.

Whereas the Super 12 payment for a fringe All Black, say of New Zealand A standard, was around $120,000 about five years ago, it is now less than $100,000.

There was a time when 10 or more All Blacks were getting more than $200,000 each as their Super 12 payments, but now only a superstar could hope to get more than $140,000.

Whatever the public may think of these amounts, human nature says that employees don't enjoy wage cuts. Some senior All Blacks also believe they should be acting now to protect future players.

So what are the long-term ramifications over what turned into a fight for the chance to earn a further $30,000 each?

The players were angry at the NZRFU, believing it gave the media information about their income in an attempt to portray them as greedy.

Down the track the lowering of wages, combined with the brief fight for an increased win bonus, may encourage some players to take the guarantee of overseas money rather than risk a new contract with the NZRFU - particularly if they feel their playing ambitions have been achieved. But despite any ill feeling, some sources told the Herald the dispute would "blow over".