In July this year, New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew updated the media on the progress of negotiations to bring Sonny Bill Williams back to New Zealand for the 2014 rugby season.
“Our guys have been talking to Khoder for some time, as has always been the case with Khoder, it’s a very up-front conversation,” Tew said.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen also praised the manager.
“Khoder has been nothing but straight up in his dealings with myself and the New Zealand Rugby Union and kept us informed right from day one. We may not always have agreed but we appreciated his honestly and his transparency.”
These statements are hard to reconcile with the public’s perception of Nasser, who generally see him as a negative influence on SBW, and whose dealings are anything but up front.
Whether you like him or not, you can’t deny that what he has achieved with and for Williams is nothing short of phenomenal.
For the last week the Williams story has dominated the headlines on both sides of the Tasman, in a way no other Australasian based story, whether a sports one or not, could.
In doing so, SBW has been taken to a new level in the consciousness of both countries. He has become, certainly in the English-speaking world of rugby (both league and union), the most famous player in either rugby code.
I would go so far as to say that in those English-speaking markets, his fame has now probably eclipsed even that of the great Jonah Lomu.
Let’s look at what happened this week. It started with a fairytale NRL premiership with the Roosters. Of the 16 NRL teams, he just happened to pick the one that would eventually win it.
Next, he caused an uproar with his Kiwis backflip, single-handedly bringing more global publicity to the Rugby League World Cup in two days than the organisers have managed since the 2013 competition was announced a few years ago.
Third, in another complete turnaround, he pledges his allegiance to the Roosters for the 2014 season, resulting in another media storm.
The saga of the chase for his signature and where he would play in 2014 was a masterclass of how to manipulate the media.
Some people criticise this media game. But when you have a once in a generation athlete like SBW, he and his management must maximise income while they can, where they can, and that means staying with the NRL in 2014.
I was initially disappointed with his decision to remain with the Roosters next year. I thought he was turning his back on the All Blacks, and was very much looking forward to seeing him play with the Chiefs, if only because he’s a New Zealander, and this is his home.
But I don’t blame him. The Roosters and New Zealand Rugby Union would have been offering similar money, but in a non-Rugby World Cup year, the fact is, the playing in the NRL offers SBW more potential media exposure than rugby union does.
If Williams wants to make the All Blacks’ 2015 Rugby World Cup squad, the stars again are going to have to align – as they have done with the Roosters’ premiership title, and indeed, throughout his entire career.
It will be interesting to what if those stars do. No doubt, there will be another media circus this time next year, when his reported one-year deal with the Roosters ends.
When we talk about SBW on the field, we use words like phenomenal, pivotal and brilliant. Off the field, he is the most talked about person in Australasia.
People criticise him for his boxing, for example, but I wouldn’t want to step into the ring with Franz Botha or any of the other brawlers he’s taken on, knowing millions of people are watching.
Imagine the pressure in doing that, or in playing for the All Blacks, or in an NRL grand final.
And he’s come through every single ordeal under unprecedented media scrutiny, with a level head, quietly training away, focused, sober, without getting into trouble with the law, or needing rehab or a sabbatical.
I believe Nasser needs to be given a lot of credit.
He has led the way in sports marketing and promotion in this part of the world. He has consistently taken calculated risks with the career one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes, and to date, they have all paid off magnificently.
This is not about stars aligning, as I alluded to earlier, but the very astute and ingenious management of Khoder Nasser.
Mervyn Cuthbert
Guest
How can you compare rugby players from both codes ,so assuredly? Name the methodology to support what can only be a subjective opinion! Watch the current RLWC & comment then. I attended the 2008 event in Aust.& thought that it provided better vuewing than Rugby's 2011 version. Each to their own. A significant challenge to R.U.will come once N.Z. has more NRL franchises.
cantab
Guest
Out of all the article I've read on the roar, this one I would have to disagree with the most.
JB
Guest
What we can say is that Khoder Nasser is an astute businessman and he has found a money pot in SBW. But he knows how to take care of his protege. We can always discuss the morality of the entire thing but, I cannot but notice that SBW is a nice clean man, who stays away from the media headlines, the booze.... I wish some of the young Wallaby players could learn a thing or two from either Nasser or SBW. Maybe Quade Cooper is on his way to redemption being managed by Khoder Nasser but we have not seen the full results as yet, except to notice that he seems to have cleaned up his behaviour. Maybe Kurtley should go into a Khoder Nasser led detox program?
Damien
Roar Guru
JR, We may have different philosophies on the pay structure of fighters. SBW's pay is linked to his footballing skills and celebrity and I think it is fair that he be compensated for the money that he brings in, not the average skills he has in the ring. When Brock Lesnar was fighting in the UFC he was their biggest star yet was far from their best fighter. Actually he got beaten up pretty bad against the 'real' fighters but he continued to get paid the most. The reason ? He had a HUGE following from his time in Pro Wrestling. Lesnar got paid because he bought in big money to the UFC. Thats the same with SBW. Main Event have made plenty from SBW's fights. Main Event made about $1.2 million from the SBW v Botha fight (About 30K buys at $40). From what I understand they take 50%. So Main Event/Sky Sport made $600K for a 3 hour telecast of a novice fighter. Thats unbelievable money for such a 'low skilled' fight. That was only possible because of SBW's 'brand' (there..you happy now ? LOL). My opinion is that his 'brand' is really strong because ironically he doesn't worry about it. It is what it is. I'm not sure what the gate takings were in Brissy but they weren't much (venue wasn't full, fairly empty actually) and I'd imagine that it just covered the costs of the venue/undercard fighters etc. So lets say its a break even or small loss. That leaves KN & SBW with about $600K. From what I recall Botha got $100K for the fight. That leaves $500K give or take for Camp SBW. Lets say that KN takes 20% (just a guess, he does for the other fighters as his cut) so that leaves SBW with about $400K. I don't really see the unfairness in that. Camp SBW stumps the upfront costs, assumes the risks and have the drawcard so they should get the lions share. So the groups that make the most money in order are : 1. Main Event/Sky TV : $600K 2. SBW : $400K 3. KN : $100K 4. Botha : $100K 5. Undercard : Gate takings. Before everyone gets excited about SBW's pay he has to pay for the cost of the camp, trainers, sparring partners etc. They say a decent camp can cost up to $100K (thats big fighters type of money). I reckon their camp would have been around the $30Kish mark. So that has to be taken out as well. Looking at those numbers I reckon the split looks fair to me. You still go on about the 'bricklayer' fighters but you don't understand that that is the way boxing goes with novice fighters. It's a well worn path in boxing that SBW did not invent. Thats just the fight game. Look at the records of the early opponents of fighters like Tyson, Tua and even Parker etc. It's embarrassing. Difference here is that SBW is getting paid big money to do it and good luck to him. Thats the capitalist world we live in. You may think that SBW has treated boxing unfairly but if you listen to trainers like Johnny Lewis, Billy Hussein etc they don't have a bad thing to day about SBW when he is in 'boxing mode'. The comments are always he takes it very seriously and he always puts in 100% at training. They do (including Mundine) however say that he should quit football to get to the next level. Fair comment and it looks like he may do that. Mundine actually said that at the start SBW can do the footy/boxing thing but anything at the Botha level and beyond requires a full time effort. The code switching is his personal choice. Would it shock you to know that KN does NOT want SBW playing league ? He much prefers Union because of its global reach and even stated that he hoped the NRL deal would fall though. Can he fall any further in the books of the league head honchos ? LOL. I'm sure SBW's heard your comments about legacy a million times. You may think that he won't have a legacy in either one but he still has 3 years to go. Time will tell.
KT
Guest
He was in 2012
DB
Guest
WOW!!! Ben Smith the best back in either code - that is a MASSIVE call. I would suggest that a Mr Greg Inglis would be the best back in either code! but fair play to you!!
expathack
Guest
Wait, so what you're telling us is that the NZRU are saying nice things about the guy who is the key to the contract they haven't actually got yet? We must have had Khoder and his antics completely wrong then. I mean, c'mon, if the guys who want something from him are saying good things about him, then it must be true. Right?
JezRu
Roar Pro
Damien True plenty of fighters limit the number of fights they have per year but generally this is after they have made their name fighting numerous amateur and early pro bouts. As you point out SBW at this point has very limited boxing skills yet he wants top dollars to fight? He has treated boxing poorly IMO, if he wanted to be a fighter he would of done what Mundine done, give away footy and concentrate all energies on the sport. If he was truly serious about becoming a world class boxer this is what he would of done. SBW may not endorse many other "brands" but make no doubt about it he is a "brand" and as such he must protect his image and marketability. Continuing to fight has beens and bricklayers wasn't doing his image much good, especially the Botha fiasco. The next step would have to of been a serious fighter in his prime, that was never going to happen. SBW is a fantastic athlete and potentially a great of Rugby League or Union. But with this switching back and forward he will leave without a lasting legacy in either game.
TwoBobsWorth
Guest
"Dean Barker"
DanFan
Guest
And you think anyone in NZ cares about that?
Damien
Roar Guru
You're right on his amateur record. He couldn't even make the Olympics. Although I think pro boxing suits his style more. We shall see how this story pans out..
Damien
Roar Guru
JR, Is that your issue ? The fact that he's also called a boxer, and that he wants to be paid for getting in the ring ? Thats getting petty. SBW's footy commitments make his boxing pursuits complicated, thats no big secret. But thats his call. There are no 'rules' in boxing saying that you must fight at a certain number of times a year. There are other boxers that only fight once or twice a year so I'm not sure what your issue with his fight frequency other to say that as a very green novice it doesn't help with his development. But again thats his call. Mundine wanted SBW to quit rugby/league long ago to concentrate on boxing full time but SBW still wanted to play. As for SBW's fighting being all about the dollars, please name me one pro fighter that fights for free. Thats the reason they call it prizefighting. Every single pro boxer out there fights for money and they all want as much of it as they can get. There's nothing wrong with that, given the risks involved. SBW has been called out by professionals ever since he started. It didn't just start after the Botha fight. Reason for that ? Money and exposure. Its that simple. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Thats just what happens when you have a 'name' and I only use that term not because of his boxing but because of his rugby/league skills. For all that was written about the Botha fight SBW still won it. The fights been done to death already so I'll leave it at that. I will point out that after that fight SBW's next opponent would have had to be at least at that around same level or better in order for KN to sell it to Main Event and Sky NZ. For SBW to take that next step he simply HAD to give up footy in order to take his limited boxing skills to the next level. He weighed up that with the goals that he wanted to achieved and realised he can't do it so he's putting the boxing on hold. You may correct in that SBW will never fight again but I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens in 3 years time. It had nothing to do with his 'brand'. He doesn't go around endorsing products because generally he stays away from that sort of thing. Addidas came along with a blank check but he turned them down. Parker WILL eventually become a World HW Champ, and of course he will fight the big names and become one himself (I think the biggest) . My point is that to date no one has bagged him for fighting the same types of boxers that SBW has.
Glenn Innis
Guest
Damien - Parkers amatuer record is not that flash- he has had seven pro fights six of them antipodean (and antipodean heavy weights are usually ordinary) as well as Botha who was world class along time ago before he went kick boxing in Japan, Only time will tell if I am proved wrong it certainly will not be the first time but I stand by my prediction he will never feature in the rings top ten.
ozinsa
Guest
My two cents worth. As an Australian living in South Africa and a rugby fan, I can tell you that, outside rugby die-hards (and perhaps even amongst them) SBW is the best known Australasian sportsman in the country. Does it fairly reflect his ability against somebody like McCaw or Eales? I don't think so but for sheer brand power, he's the man.
JezRu
Roar Pro
Perhaps he should not claim to be a boxer then? A fight once in a blue moon is not a professional, yet he wants to be paid as one. Parker may not have fought to many big names thus far, but he will. As for SBW my feeling is he will never box again. It was all about the $'s, which is fine as long as you are fighting has beens and never were's, but after being shown up in the Botha bout and now being called out by real professionals it is now no longer a viable pursuit for team SBW. Being beaten from pillar to post is not great for your "BRAND" I understand he is a professional, I also understand that loyalty from players or clubs disappeared many years a go now but it's the sports that he and his manager treat with content, it's the fans and with his wc backflip even a fellow player. He and KN now believe that he is bigger than the games he plays, well he's not. SBW could walk away from professional sport today and life would go on as normal. A new kid will come a long in both RL and Rugby and Boxing would never remember he was even there.
mushi
Guest
Zak not really - there is still ethics and social convention,
Dave
Guest
In defence of Khoder. He doesn't have a no DH policy, but an all dh policy. Look at the sefish idiots he manages, Quade Cooper, Anthony Mundine and nor Money Bill. I wasn't aware he was a registered agent. That dpesn't matter anymore does it.
Damien
Roar Guru
GI, Of course Parkers name isn't in the Top 10 yet. He only just turned pro. Check out this article and tell me you're still confident he will never be Top 10.. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/9257700/Sheridan-Joseph-Parker-can-be-a-world-beater
Popeye
Guest
+1 Squirrel, spot on!!
Popeye
Guest