Auckland push on with messy Manu transfer

By WYNNE GRAY

Auckland intends to hire Waikato rugby strongman Deacon Manu today despite the prop wanting to get out of the arrangement.

The curious dilemma has been simmering for months but Auckland will break the impasse when they lodge transfer papers with the New Zealand Rugby Union by tonight's deadline.

"Auckland will transfer Dave Gibson, Shannon Paku and Deacon Manu," ARU chief executive David White said yesterday.

That intention about Manu did not quite dovetail with the viewpoint of the Waikato union.

"We are not anticipating his [Manu's] transfer to Auckland; there are some issues which are being worked through at the moment," Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Gary Dawson declared.

"Deacon came to us, talked to us, he wants to stay with Waikato."

The conflict is the latest high-profile contract glitch to hit Auckland. Last year All Black halfback Byron Kelleher signed before he returned to Otago and in 1999, Caleb Ralph went to Canterbury on a negotiated transfer after Auckland refused to release him.

In the halfback turnover this season, Auckland have decided to offer the on-loan Gibson a contract and have already signed Wellington fullback utility Paku.

Plans to boost the propping resources were helped when the 23-year-old Manu agreed to swap provinces. His ability to play either side of the scrum would make him a significant acquisition.

According to Auckland, the deal was done, and the contract signed before problems surfaced recently.

"On July 5, after a long consultative process, Deacon Manu signed with the Auckland Rugby Union for the 2003 and 2004 seasons," White said. "Our expectations are that he will play for Auckland."

But there have been rumblings in the market and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association has become involved. White confirmed some late drama and Manu's request to get out of the deal.

"We have had an approach from Deacon and his agent last week and declined that," he said.

"We did not do this lightly. We see Deacon as an outstanding acquisition and gifted rugby player."

Auckland intend filing their transfer documents for Manu by the 5pm deadline today and lodging the required $30,000 transfer fee.

NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol would not comment on any individual cases. Issues of employment had to be confidential until participants allowed them to enter the public arena, he said.

"This time of the year is a very tough time of the year. There are a lot of big decisions being made by players about their future and their livelihoods."

Nichol indicated there were a number of difficult transfer situations which had yet to be fully resolved. He wondered whether it might not be better to change the transfer period to June, after the Super 12.