Of course not!!! Here’s why…

• The uneducated amongst the rugby watching public are claiming that the 2004 Chiefs made the semis with four Steamers in the squad, but are now well off the pace with nine Steamers in 2005. This ignores one key fact. By the time the 2004 Chiefs made the semi-finals, there were actually 9 Bay of Plenty players in the Chiefs squad after injuries to players from a certain province during the campaign. This incidentally is the same number of Steamers as the 2005 Chiefs squad has... 
  

• The observant amongst you will have noted that Glen Jackson is not part of the 2005 squad. Anyone care to comment on the form of David Hill at first five lately? 
  

• The Mafia in 2004 never argued that the likes of Upton, Lutui or Latu should have been starting for the Chiefs instead of Robinson, Willis, or Holah respectively. However we argued that they absolutely should have been in the Chiefs squad or on the bench ahead of Duley, Linklater, and Couch respectively. Furthermore, to a union like Bay of Plenty those extra professional contracts make a massive difference to financial performance. Having NPC players who are fully professional who are paid by the NZRU - not the BOPRU is a relatively new luxury for us. After all, unlike some unions we don’t have the further luxury of having our CEO and Marketing Manager etc paid for half the year by the Chiefs, freeing up money elsewhere. But I digress, let’s get back on topic and reflect now, Duley, Linklater, Couch. Hmmm… 
  

• A much bigger factor in our performance so far has been the loss of Tom Willis and Keith Robinson, and in early rounds the fall of Lauaki to the temptation of the pie. Somehow replacing Robinson with Hohneck (incidentally another Waikato player) hasn’t quite cut it. It has been pleasing to see the impact made by Bernie Upton in the last couple of weeks. Likewise Tom Willis vs. Lutui or Linklater? With all due respect to the later hookers, an injury free Tom Willis would be an All Black. 
  

• How many Steamers players have you seen starting for the Chiefs lately? Often as few as two… 
  

• The biggest problem this season has been the Chiefs backs. For example Cashmore was a lone performer in an appalling backline against the Reds. Admittedly, Grant McQuoid was something of a defensive disappointment, something we wouldn’t have picked after some of the sterling defensive work of the 2004 Steamers. Interestingly, we have seen a remarkable improvement outwide in the last two weeks with the return of Sitiveni Sivivatu. I’m not sure how him being injured is the fault of the Steamers… 
  

• And a final question for the naysayers, how did our beloved Steamers do later in 2004 after our arguements against the initial 2004 Chiefs squad? My memory is hazy, but I seem to recall some sort of Shield, a defence of that Shield against somebody and a trip to Christchurch for something…

 So there you have it my dear Steamers fans, the involvement of BoP players in the 2005 Chiefs is not to blame for the current 9^th placing. Let no Waikato fan tell you otherwise.

Also, take heart. The Super 12 is not done yet, and I’m reliably informed that it is still mathematically possible for the Chiefs to make the semis. If the Steamers can break our Ranfurly Shield curse, all things are possible!