Malo boys and girls..yeah I read that artcile earlier this morning..disappointed, but lets not cry over those guys who lack the vision to see that the Manu is a team on the rise..look at the November tour last year.
I'm of the view that a lot of the hamo boys here in NZ are being sold the black jersey story from early on in their careers - so you have to stay loyal and chase it. Some chase it and do well in the AB jersey, while others play sevens, or one or two tests as an AB and that's it. Look at guys like Kevin Senio, Sosene Anesi and David Smith (Can't name any others but you guys can help me out). I hate seeing the Manu get guys at the twilight of their careers and they are past it when they pull on the blue jersey - look at Loki Chrichton. He was below-par for Manu, stayed in NZ for too long in hopes of an ABs jersey - he would've been a star had he changed when he was 25,26,27 not 30,31 lol
Yes, playing for the Manu will limit your options to play in NZ, Australia and maybe even S.A but rugby is a global market and the real coin, as we all know, is in Europe and Japan.
Look at guys like Seilala Mapusua, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Census Johnston, Daniel Leo etc - these guys are examples of the modern-day Manu player. Play in Europe, double your Super Rugby contract, in some cases triple it) and look after your famalies back in Samoa or Aus, or NZ. At the same time and the most important aspect (in my eyes anyway) is that they are looking to boost the status of the Manu on the world stage. (Although, as an athlete NZ rugby is the best brand of football in the world - so the aspect of a challenge would keep players here. On the otherhand the respective European league are improving markedly and arguably could put up an argument as being on par with Super Rugby).
I know what I've said is an old point - but the moral of story is that the Manu really need to do well at this year's RWC to make these guys on the fence jump off and put their load in with the Samoa. I take my hat off to Kahn Fotuali'i and George Pisi who made the change - these guys will still be around at the RWC in 2015.
It's important that we make it our best campaign in history so hamo kids in Australia, New Zealand and in SAMOA play for the Manu. We may not be able to compete with other countries by offering any top-ups on their club contracts but we can say to hamo boys - Play for the Manu - get a contract in Europe - get some exposure at international level - play at a RWC - improve your stock as a club player to an international player - get paid more money than you have ever seen before by European and Japanese clubs.
I feel for our hamo boys who play sevens early in there careers and never hit the heights which they are touted to achieve e.g David Smith who misses out HUGELY on contributing to Samoa as serious international rugby contender. The kid is born in Samoa, goes to MAGS for one year, can't speak English, plays a season of sevens and is now plying his trade in Perth for the W.Force and will soon be in Toulon. He's only 25, what a waste of talent for Samoa! I've been told he would love to wear the blue of the Manu, but he knows he will never play international rugby in his life after appearing for NZ in the sevens comp. Sold the dream at a young age.
Samoa has the potential for big things - just got to make our boys see that the Blue does have benefits which outweight the the Black or the Green and Gold for that matter.
.. buh yeah Just sharing my thoughts 
