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It’s official: Semi Radradra will return to Australia to face the music sometime this week, with the exact date to be determined by variable forces like ‘Fiji Time’ and Semi Radradra.
What reason do we have to not believe the Parramatta flyer’s latest vague, second-hand assurance that he’s on his way back?
Put simply, we have no reason to doubt him. He’s pledged that nothing will stand in his way of keeping his promise this time, except maybe for his intentions.
Sure, he may have been screening calls from Brad Arthur. Sure, he’s ignored multiple deadlines to return home. Sure, he’s asked the Eels to start paying his wages through Western Union.
But besides all that, I’ve seen nothing suspicious to make me sceptical that yesterday’s assurances are just more porkies in his week-long Festival of Fiction.
This time, Semi’s direct promise delivered by text message through his manager is heartfelt and genuine. He’s returning home to fulfil his responsibilities, and he’ll do so the moment Parramatta stop showing the resistance of a brown avocado and quit extending his deadline.
To those who doubt this, that being you conspiracy theorists, truth-questers and Supercoach dorks, the ones who refuse to have their apprehension quelled by regular guarantees from Radradra’s teammates who haven’t spoken to him since he left, what more do you need?
Aren’t George Christodoulo’s erroneous updates from his spaceship enough to ease your dark, cynical soul? Are you too blinded by your own distrust that you can’t accept the litany of guarantees from reliable sources such as the Fiji wires and Parramatta management? Don’t you know Khoder Nasser has an alibi?
For heaven’s sake, Semi has even been named by Parramatta to play this Saturday night. The bloke is virtually through Aussie customs.
Radradra returning to the Eels is a no-brainer. Why would a financially stressed man of great privacy want to move somewhere with anonymity and extraordinary tax breaks? Better yet, who in their right mind would want to leave Parramatta?
Close friends say the try-scoring machine is homesick. That’s why he’s odds-on to return to his cherished homeland, the country he has served with such singular distinction.
Never doubt Semi’s passion for Australia. Once the match payment clears, he would bleed for the jersey. He is as Aussie as Russell Crowe, and that’s why we should cut him a break.
And besides, even if he doesn’t show up as promised, the Fijian superstar has been painted into a corner anyway. By continually extending his leave, it is clear that Parramatta are playing serious hardball.
If he refuses to return, he will be banned from earning half his worth in rugby league forever. The game won’t sustain any irreversible embarrassment from being held to ransom, so we’ve all got nothing to worry about it. It really is advantage: footy.
Nevertheless, this is inconsequential. Would Radradra run the risk of fleeing without notice, forcing Eels officials to litigate for damages before both parties settle on a compensation payout that is ultimately paid from the deep pockets of the new club?
I’ve never heard of something so preposterous occurring in the game before, and I doubt it’s going to start now.
That’s why we should all trust this man’s word and take it as read; Semi will be back in Australia. At some point.
To pick up his stuff, at the very least.