Warriors co-owner cold on signing Sonny Bill

MATT NIPPERT
Last updated 16:44 16/07/2012
Owen Glenn
PHIL REID/Dominion Post
LOYALTY: New Warriors co-owner Owen Glenn has all but ruled out an attempt to woo Sonny Bill Williams.

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The new Warriors co-owner has all but ruled out an attempt to woo Sonny Bill Williams, despite an imminent National Rugby League broadcasting deal that could deliver a windfall to the club.

Monaco resident and New Zealand citizen Owen Glenn bought a half share in the club from former co-owner Mark Hotchin in March but admits he's new to the sport.

''I enjoy the sport,'' he said. ''But I'm a rugby union man, all my life.''

Despite his love for the 15-man code Glenn ruled out participating in the NZRU's plan to sell ownership stakes in Super 15 franchises due to the restriction placed on potential owners.

''They give you all these handcuffs and shackles. You can't pick this, we set the games, merchandising, that's us. What the hell am I buying?''

Glenn said the limitations made the NZRU's objectives transparent: ''They just want your money.''

Multi-millionaire Glenn recently sold his logistics business and has been busy since, wooing the media about his views on New Zealand and his philanthropic enterprise, contributing funds to projects as diverse as hockey and Auckland University.

Professional sports are a fickle business, at least in financial terms, but Glenn said the Warriors were much better placed than many of their rivals.

''The Warriors are marginally profitable. The funny thing is, I heard yesterday at the board meeting that seven of the clubs in the league don't make any money, and four are very marginal - it's astonishing, isn't it?''

Glenn said the health of the game was likely to be bolstered with a new broadcast rights deal, but the Warriors share of the proceeds would be earmarked for developing the game.

This decision leads Glenn to all but rule out using the new broadcast funds to attempt to woo league re-convert Sonny Bill Williams to Auckland.

''Good luck to him. But I was brought up to think loyalty and saluting the flag meant something.''

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