Sport's secret agent men

They don’t work for MI6 or have a licence to kill but they are secretive and powerful. They can instil fear throughout the football codes and make clubs commit fatal errors. Say hello to the super player agents.

To my mind the most remarkable event in the latest Israel Folau saga has not been his alleged about-face.

It was the fact that the competition’s CEO was so distraught at the prospect of losing Folau to rugby he thought nothing of contacting Isaac Moses – a player agent who has been banned from negotiating NRL contracts because of his contribution to what was hailed two years ago as the darkest event in the sport’s history – to confirm Folau’s decision and perhaps to beg Moses and Izzy to reconsider.

It was an embarrassing revelation, highlighting the lengths to which the code will go to lock down a superstar.

More importantly though, it showed the power the agents of these X-factor players hold.

Moses and his fellow director at Titan Management, David Riolo, were given six month bans in April for their role in the Melbourne Storm rorting scandal but were permitted to operate pending an appeal which, of course, allowed them to complete all their lucrative deals for next season and discuss with an eager Shane Mattiske the possibility of Folau returning to the game.

Their appeals were eventually dismissed. They could no longer represent NRL players.

It was announced further discussions concerning Folau were to be held with “Titan Management” (over the telephone with Moses on a voice modifier, presumably).

There has been much conjecture about what Izzy wants. Unlike most young players his immense talent and profile allow him to explore opportunities and possibilities.

The brilliance of agent Moses is to suggest possibilities and instil in his client the courage to pursue them.

A perfectly legal form of subterfuge is then engineered. Parramatta were made to think they were the blessed ones, while discussions were also taking place with the Waratahs and the ARU.

And the clubs start telling white lies and making fools of themselves by trying to obscure their desperation to procure the star player.

The Eels originally claimed they only spoke with Folau after his AFL defection.

And the Waratah’s coach Michael Cheika insisted his meeting with the young star was a complete fluke.

“It just happened by accident, really. We met by chance and then I got to meet with him and speak with him in a bit more detail about rugby,” Cheika claimed.

However ARU acting chief executive Matt Carroll revealed discussions took place immediately after Folau announced he was leaving the AFL.

Now that Moses’ client has done the unexpected on four occasions (leaving Melbourne, Brisbane, GWS Giants, and now going to rugby) anything is possible. The club and code that have him are fearful of him leaving, and everyone else believes they can get him.

“I hope my career in rugby is going to be long-term and that’s all I’m thinking about,” he announced.

And yet on the possibility of a return to rugby league he said it’s “not out of the question”.

But the most potent agent of all is the one who acts as a spiritual mentor and “friend” to the troubled chosen few – the one and only Khoder Nasser.

Nasser, who spurns contracts with these his client/friends (it would be interesting to know how he negotiates his percentage), has encouraged Sonny Bill Williams to pursue his sporting dreams which his prodigious and various talents allow.

While the previously troubled Williams appears to be at peace with himself, competing clubs go to unholy war to get his short-term signature.

After signing a new five-year deal with the Bulldogs in 2007, Williams said he didn’t want to experience another contract negotiation. Five years on he has completed six more with six different clubs.

Nasser’s influence on Quade Cooper is not looking quite as positive though. When Cooper joined up with Nasser, Australian rugby got understandably nervous.

Encouraged to express himself, quiet Quade wrote about the “toxic environment” of the Wallabies camp.

Estranged from the ARU he sat outside restaurants with Nasser and Williams, chewing a toothpick and contemplating his future while announcing plans to enter the boxing world, before re-signing with the ARU for another two years yesterday.

In the film Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd believes James Bond would “give little thought to sacrificing others in order to protect queen and country”.

She tells him: “I wouldn’t go as far as calling you a cold-hearted bastard but … ”

Like their MI6 equivalent these super player agents can be ruthless and give little thought to sacrificing others and the salary cap in order to protect their exalted clients.