Hamster 2008 Wind-Up

The Hamster is ready to go in into hibernation for another summer, hopefully to resurface again in a few months time for the resumption of the North Harbour Rugby Road-Show 2009.

Before I go I would like to point out that the recent appointment of C Dowd and J Wilson was ever so slightly disturbing. I have no doubt that they are competent exponents of the game and we may have discovered two very good coaches but it's the process which elected them which showed familiar frailties.

In normal business practice people are given a fair hearing when applying for a position and the people who interview them are related to this company and should be impartial while remaining vigilant to the bests interests of the entity.

At Harbour, where normal commercial practices are often lacking by their absence, continued down the well-worn path of mediocrity and lack of respect.

We are told that eight candidates were short-listed after 24 applications of which MacDaddy presumably was one.

These people were then interviewed by:

• John Morgan (Chairman of NH and Craig's boss)
• Ian Jones (Director and former team-mate of Wilson and Dowd)
• John Mayhew (Director and former team-doctor of both Wilson and Dowd)
• Laurie Mains (Former All Black coach of both Wilson and Dowd and provincial coach to Wilson)

While it is acknowledged that other applicants were former All Blacks and known to the panel, I would have thought it reasonably wise to have at least two persons who could be seen as totally impartial and preferably one person representing the North Harbour stakeholders.

This lack of obvious transparency coupled with the fact that the whole nation knew who was going to coach the side prior to interview process was exceedingly embarrassing. It also showed a genuine lack of respect for those people looking to "throw their hat in the ring".

Oh well, onwards and upwards ... have a great summer ...