I have said it before and I'll say it again, Tartak is a scourge on any club where he has players who are on his books, and he always will be. However, if you were a Pacifica player or the family of same, he would be right up there with who you would go to straight to employ as a manager. I don't know his skills in managing player money, however, he certainly 'screws' clubs.
Tartak primarily manages Pacifica players, and given their culture, the entire family is typically dependent on the player's income, and this is no offence to Pacifica players or those from Pacifica regions, it is their culture, and I respect that.
Pacifica players will typically always go where the dollars are bigger, to support their family, as given their culture, it as their responsibility, well most, to their family. I'm not saying non-Pacifica players do not necessarily embrace the same responsibility, however, it is far more so in the Pacifica culture and their responsibility to their entire family.
I worked in a Pacifica nation for 3 years, and most of my employees wages went straight back the the family and the village.
However, every club has to recognise and clearly understand the Pacifica culture, and that they are likely to 'jump ship' if a better offer appears. It's not they are not loyal to a club, as they are extremely loyal, however their loyalty is much more to their family than it is to a club. In saying that, many employees in business today also embrace a similar culture, so it's not just Pacifica players. It's just the nature of the beast these days!
Gone are the old days, when loyalty was gold and was demonstrative of long term employment and a safe investment in an employee, whereas, having interviewed (not being interviewed) 'head hunters', it's now, 'How come you have only had a few jobs? You are lacking experience.'
If the Fainu's leave, say goodbye to Olakau'atu as well, most likely, and unfortunately.
Maybe Mestrov has had enough of Tartak, as I found it was really strange we signed Arthur, when we already had Humphries and Fainu coming through. Humphries seems to be being groomed as a hooker these days, similar to Croker, however, Tartak, like he complained about Foran as 5/8, may have perceived 'a road block' for Latu, with Arthur's signing, just as he did with Foran for Schuster.
It's all about money these days, and managers and players, through their managers, recognise (well most) the players potentially have a very limited time to earn a significant income in the NRL, and some have managers who let them 'piss it it up against the wall', as opposed to some managers, like JT's manager (wonderful story about that), who set him up for life. I am sure there are many other stories of great managers who have set their players up for long term wealth.
Latu wasn't on small coin at Manly, for a 16 year-old, $300k a year I believe, however, the Tigers or another club may well offer him $450k, maybe more, and given Hunt may leave the Dragons in the next week, and the Fainu's have plenty of friends at the Dragons, if he was your son, what would you suggest?