Why Muliaina wants to leave

Mils Muliaina (left) and fellow All Blacks 'surf lifesaving' at Durban yesterday. Picture / Fotopress

The fraud allegations involving Mils Muliaina's girlfriend Hayley Armstrong and her former employers, the Auckland Rugby Union, appear to be near the heart of the All Black's likely departure to Waikato and the Chiefs.

The chances of the 25-year-old Muliaina quitting Auckland and the Blues are growing by the day, with ARU chief executive David White yesterday confirming that despite being desperate to keep the utility back, they were not confident of doing so. Muliaina, who is in Durban preparing for the Tri-Nations, will decide his future this week.

Auckland's last hope is that Muliaina's moves are a negotiation strategy. But they are set for disappointment.

Muliaina's manager, Bruce Sharrock, last night played down the "sensational" aspects and said he had "a lot of work to do" assessing the offers in front of Muliaina.

Sharrock predicted rugby would experience an increase in players of Muliaina's standing shifting teams, a la what happens in the NRL, and that the days of blind provincial loyalty were fading. Auckland and Waikato tabled new offers last week, while Wellington had expressed a "genuine interest".

Muliaina's loss will be a massive blow for the struggling northerners while his acquisition would give a further signal that the Chiefs are on the rise after making last year's Super 12 semifinals and battling well through injuries this year.

Waikato have emerged as Muliaina's favoured home. Wellington had all but given up hope of securing him, but were then confused by the player's own comments late last week when he expressed a strong interest in a move to the capital.

Wellington are understood to have re-checked with Sharrock over the weekend, and were told that they were a fall-back option.

The Herald has also been told Muliaina conceded to the Blues and their new coach, David Nucifora, that the situation involving his girlfriend had proved awkward to deal with and was playing a major part in his thinking.

With his contract up at the end of the season, it appears that the 29-test back has decided 2006 is the time for a fresh start.

Armstrong was the ARU's events manager until December. She was under police investigation by the company fraud squad but the ARU board withdrew its complaint in a show of support for Muliaina. Missing money has been repaid.

White would not go into the specifics yesterday, but said: "I think his motivation for a possible move has involved off-field issues beyond anyone's control.

"We've put an offer on the table, but we're not holding our breath. It would be a major blow to lose a player of his quality, but unfortunately it involves issues beyond rugby. I would not be surprised if he did go."

But Sharrock said: "Mils is the person who can fill you in on that and I haven't been at any meetings where that has been expressed. It was a difficult time for Mils but that's in the past.

"Maybe people are looking at the sensational rather than the true rugby issues.

"Every year in the NRL you see various players moving. Commercial reasons are important, for sure, but players want new environments to take their game to a new level ... around new players and coaches.

"Mils is near the top but by his own admission, there are things he wants to work on."

The loss of the Samoan-born Muliaina - who left Southland in 1998 on a Kelston Boys High scholarship - would be a bitter pill for Auckland. They will lose an All Black, and a player they have nursed through a number of incidents.

The most serious transgression was in 2002, when Auckland suspended him without pay for two weeks after he urinated on the floor of a bar. He also received facial injuries in a bar scuffle.

Rugby issues may be playing a part in his likely move. Muliaina's test spot is under threat, he might enjoy more time at centre, and his attacking game needs work. But it is also fair to assume that the bonds with Auckland have been worn down, with by far the most damaging situation being the one involving his girlfriend. Muliaina has not been in vintage form this year, raising questions about his focus.

The Chiefs and/or Waikato will celebrate if he joins a backline boasting fellow All Blacks Byron Kelleher, David Hill, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sosene Anesi, along with rising talents Stephen Donald and Steeler Niva Ta'auso.

Waikato chairman Michael Crawford, a member of the Chiefs board, said: "We needed an answer from Mils by early this week. I'd expect we will know by Wednesday."

Meanwhile, White said Auckland were taking action in the transfer market, after disappointing results and relying on homegrown talent.

Auckland and/or the Blues still have considerable talent. But they have lost test men Carlos Spencer, Rico Gear, Kees Meeuws, Xavier Rush, Mose Tuiali'i and Sione Lauaki.