Jonah Lomu Dies Financially Broke? All Blacks Owe His Family Millions ^Featured

NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA: New Zealand All Blacks superstar winger Jonah Lomu who died November 18 this year is a greater loss to humanity than to the rugby world. To die financially broke after playing at the highest level of rugby for the elite national team of the world, is a disgrace to the New Zealand All Blacks organization.
 
From Tonga we feel that our hearts are ripped out of our bosoms, unable to comprehend how such success story ended in an anti-climax. Jonah Lomu’s immigrant parents searched for opportunities in New Zealand, the land of milk-and-honey for most Tongans without notable skills. And Jonah found his natural talents on the rugby field much appreciated in his new adopted country.

The All Blacks saw great potentials in the young Tongan immigrant. His parents were satisfied with their choice of a new home among fellow Polynesians (Maoris, Sāmoans, Rarotongans, etc.) and pakehas alike. And rugby was a natural fit for Jonah’s Hercules build and speed. He rose to stardom beyond New Zealand’s rugby-crazed shores to encompass the entire world.

A WORLD CLASS ACT

All classes of athletes were envious of such physique and prowess on the rugby field. He ran over opponents, slipped away from would-be tacklers like a breeze, and set new records since donning an All Blacks jersey in 1994 at age 19. Wouldn’t that be the youngest Kiwi to suit up in the country’s proud black jersey?

Youngsters all over the world − white, brown, black, and yellow − wanted to be a Jonah Lomu. Smiles were his demeanor after each try scored while men of all sizes would be left cussing his name, and dusting dirt off of their faces behind him. Sold out crowds at every football stadium  were true when he wore the All Blacks’ colors.

With such success attracted huge responsibilities in his sphere of influences. Expecting overflowing windfalls of unbelievable riches, families and friends gravitated to Jonah’s weakest judgment: charity. Not the kind of charity with big fanfares, but small “me’a ‘ofa” (contributions) in the Polynesian communities, and anyone who needed help, from whatever amount he was paid since playing as an All Blacks rookie.

In the eyes of this beholder, Jonah Lomu was greatly disadvantaged by his humble upbringing. A laid-back and go-happy lad, but whose unaggressive parents put their trust in All Blacks representatives who were only too eager to cash in on young Lomu’s potentials.

ALL BLACKS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Back in Tonga, such bravery and heroism on the international level would have earned him the highest recognition from commoners, nobilities, and the Royal Family alike. He would have been set for life in whatever life style he would want. But most humble Tongans such as his parents and his kind would turn down such outward self-aggrandizing.    

 But in New Zealand, such notoriety is the stuff that earn millions of dollars in playing contracts and merchandise endorsements. How did Jonah Lomu miss out on negotiating a huge contract with the All Blacks and hundreds of products vying for famous names to peddle their wares? Did Jonah turn them down, or was he indifferent to making a killing with his name?

Whatever the circumstances, we can only remember that Jonah Lomu was an All Blacks player. They should have taken care of him. His kidney failure problems should have been born by an All Blacks’ insurance policy. The best rugby organization in this world should look after their own players off the field as well as they took care of them on the field.

It is the All Blacks’ corporate social responsibility to nurture and look after their people while they’re playing, and their well-being post duty. Jonah Lomu will only be remembered as an All Blacks superstar. And the All Blacks organization must not let one of its elite players go down in history that he died as a penniless human being.

Jonah’s family should not be begging for donations to raise his widow and two sons. The All Blacks organization must consider a large contribution to the family’s endowment in Jonah’s name.

(Sione A. Mokofisi is a Tongan columnist. He’s Director of English-Journalism & Languages at Tonga International Academy, Havelu, Tongatapu. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).