Robinson's fate up to new coach

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour captain Mark Robinson is demanding a move to the Highlanders and his fate now rests with new Blues coach Peter Sloane.

Robinson can remain with Harbour and join the Highlanders through the draft system if Sloane allows it.

North Harbour remained the centre of transfer intrigue yesterday when they accepted defeat in the tug-of-war wrangle involving wing Aisea Tuilevu, who will take up a three-year contract with Otago and thus return to the Highlanders where he made his name on loan this year.

Tuilevu's North Harbour contract ends this year. North Harbour always maintained they would not try to hold Tuilevu against his will, and when the wing finally made it clear he wanted to move south, the wrangle was over.

On the same day, Harbour's test No 8, Ron Cribb, confirmed he would miss the rest of the season - including the All Blacks' end-of-year tour - because of knee injuries.

North Harbour chief executive Doug Rollerson declined to comment on the Robinson situation, but said the union had asked players' association head Rob Nicol to help to work through the issues for the player and union.

The Herald understands Robinson heard that Otago's test halfback, Byron Kelleher, signed with Auckland 13 days ago - even though the Super 12 franchise base announced the signing only this week. That meant Robinson was no longer assured of a starting place in the Blues.

Kelleher, 24, initiated his own transfer and Sloane, the ex-Highlanders coach, was moved to give Robinson assurances that he had not lured the Otago and Highlanders halfback to Blues territory.

But the 26-year-old Robinson, who played four games, including one test, for the All Blacks in 1997/98, decided his interests were no longer served by remaining with the Blues.

Sloane can insist that Robinson, who has been in brilliant form for North Harbour, remain in his squad.

But Sloane and David White, the Auckland Rugby Union's chief executive who heads the Blues franchise, can allow the Highlanders to grab Robinson through the draft.

It would seem folly to insist that Robinson stay with a franchise run by their rivals, Auckland, who have rolled out a large welcome mat to a test player in his position.

Meanwhile, the confused messages Tuilevu has been sending out made sense yesterday when he decided to honour his contract with Otago.

North Harbour believed the 29-year-old Tuilevu signed the contract with Otago in error, and wanted to stay with them.

Tuilevu has given warm fuzzy messages to both unions over the past few weeks.

Rollerson said an amicable agreement had been reached, and there were no hard feelings between the unions.

"Tui is a lovely guy who doesn't want to say anything to anybody they don't want to hear, but that can be confusing," Rollerson said. "He felt he performed well in the environment down there. It is disappointing to lose him."

Helping the decision might have been the news that Sloane is keen on Northland wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca - Tuilevu is more assured of a start in the Highlanders.

Tuilevu will see out the season with North Harbour, unlike Cribb. A release from North Harbour said that All Black doctor John Mayhew told Cribb he needed six weeks' rehabilitation.

* Counties Manukau first five-eighths Blair Feeney, 25, last night signed a three-year contract with Otago.