No one wants to see a great man’s name being sullied, least of all a fellow sporting legend.
One of the most upsetting aspects of Jonah Lomu’s unfortunate passing last month was the news that he died leaving little money in the bank.
The former All Blacks great, who passed away at the age of 40, had a number of corporate and speaking commitments but his family were left with a meagre nest-egg.
The New Zealand Players’ Association announced they had set up the Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust, which should help provide for Lomu’s sons, Dhyreille and Brayley.
On Tuesday, Kiwi journalist Hilary Barry hit out at the fact that Lomu’s troubles had been aired so publicly.
“Sometimes I think it’s best to deal with private problems privately,” she wrote. “Why could the NZRFU and Players’ Association not have had a whip around behind closed doors?”
“It concerns me that the memory of this great and gentle giant will be tarnished by the negativity this initiative will generate.”
Sonny Bill Williams has also spoken out about Lomu’s name being dragged through the headlines.
Can't believe they doing Jonah like this, zero respect for one of the greats..
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) December 15, 2015
The centre’s sentiments were generally reflected in a slew of replies, which expressed the desire that Lomu’s family can be left in peace after the passing of the greatest player in the history of the sport.
