A Fuss over Nothing

Wakefield forward David Solomona looks set to complete a move to Bradford Bulls early next week but as you might imagine, the Wildcats aren't happy about it.




The claim by Wakefield Chief Executive Steve Ferres is that the Bulls illegally approached the Kiwi second-rower whilst he was still under contract at Wakefield. Had Wakefield been relegated, Solomona would have become a free agent but with the Wildcats' avoiding relegation on the last day of the season, his contract at Belle Vue remained intact.

Allegations were then made by the Wildcats that the Bulls had illegally approached Solomona towards the end of this season and a complaint was made to the Rugby Football League, which has led to the Odsal club being investigated.
Seven days later, Solomona handed in a transfer request, with Ferres claiming that their prized star had become "unsettled because he has been offered a better financial deal elsewhere."

Unfortunately for Ferres, that is only half the story.

In today's game, agents are always touting players around the clubs. There is no denying that and for any agent that doesn't, it would be questionable if he had the best interests of his client to heart. Clubs are not prevented from contacting agents, just from directly approaching the players themselves whilst they are contracted elsewhere.

As for Solomona, I don't doubt that he's looking to increase his earnings, but I suspect that its more to do with the fact that Bradford are much more progressive, ambitious and forward thinking club than the Wildcats probably ever will be.

At Odsal, Solomona has the opportunity to progress his career, raise his profile and begin adding honours to his name. At Wakefield, he has the opportunity to put his career on the line, fighting against relegation and remaining a big fish in a small pond.

If Ferres wants to attract good players and, more crucially, keep them at Belle Vue he needs to look at his own club before pointing the finger at others. The Wildcats have a poor side. There is little quality that takes the field and with Korkidas already gone, Solomona going and players like Atkins will be picked up sooner rather than later should he continue to impress. With a junior set-up stifled by average overseas players, it seems that many promising players will be prevented from making the grade.
Off the field, they are stuck an unsuitable ground, playing in front of pitiful crowds and have little future in the game unless Wakefield Council step in to save the club with a new stadium.
As a result, Solomona's job security is seriously undermined and the lure of a secure playing contract and sound financial package is understandably too good to turn down.

The current state of the club is always going to lead to the scenario where players feel they have to leave to further their career. It happened with Ellis, it's happening now with Solomona.

The Wildcats bigwigs can cry foul all they want but they aren't doing themselves any favours.
One club will eventually come out of this situation with it's reputation further tarnished, but it won't be the Bulls.