Kade Snowden, the previously anonymous Cronulla prop, now knows what life in the spotlight is like. I say anonymous because although he has played State of Origin before, he’s far from high profile.
Snowden, for those who don’t know, is one of the best young forwards in the NRL. But if you type his name into google, you get just 46 results.
The majority of those results don’t have anything to do with his bright future, but instead, his bungled re-signing with the Cronulla Sharks.
This was a lesson in how to take a bit of much needed good PR and turn it into a nightmare. Snowden has been made to look a bit foolish and his word has been questioned, but we’ll go in to that a little bit later.
First the circumstances of the situation.
At 11:30am on Thursday the Sharks sent out a press release claiming Snowden had re-signed with the club for another two seasons.
The release contained quotes from Snowden saying how he was “really happy” and that he was “old school”.
He went on to say that he is “all about loyalty and respect. That is the way I was brought up. I love Cronulla and all the boys are my best mates. Loyalty means a lot to me.”
A press conference was called for 2:30pm that afternoon, but while the media gathered on cue, Snowden did not.
About half an hour before he had received a call from a third party believed to be Knights owner in waiting Nathan Tinkler. The Tinkler Sports Group and the Newcastle Knights denied any approach to the player had been made.
It’s believed the not so mystery third party offered Snowden another $100 thousand a season to switch camps. Where to? Well that it seems is… well the $100 thousand question.
There’s no doubt that Snowden has been a tad disloyal to the Sharks who have helped him develop as a player, but what is loyalty in this modern sporting age?
Sport is a business. Deals are no longer struck over schooners of beer at the bar in the leagues club.
Snowden is looking after his future. Why shouldn’t he consider the other offer, especially when he obviously hasn’t put pen to paper yet?
This situation isn’t new. Snowden won’t be the last player to agree to terms, but run out in another clubs colours the following season.
The Sharks probably should’ve kept things a little quieter until he’d signed on the dotted line.
Snowden’s actions won’t sit well with everyone, especially Cronulla fans desperate for some good news about their club.
But welcome to 2011. It’s when a persons word is useless and money talks louder.
Snowden isn’t a villain. He’s just playing the same game as everyone else.
You can follow Luke on twitter @luke_doherty and on Sky News Australia
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