Truth be told folkes did questioned sbw on his friendship with mundine and also why he became muslim. Things a coach shouldn't really interfere with unless it was affecting his game which it wasnt. Folkes didn't approve either of the 2
i know that Folkes questioned both at the time but ask yourself this question --> are you necessarily racist if you are critical of Anthony Mundine?
it is also important to appreciate the effect Mundine has had on fellow players including Bulldogs players... for example, Solomon Haumono walks out on the Dogs to be with his girlfriend, Gabrielle Richens, leading Mundine to make a dash to London to bring Haumono back to Sydney... at the time, i thought to myself that Haumono and the Pleasure Machine did not look like a natural fit but when you saw how hot she was, you understood why a guy would drop everything to go and be with her
but it later emerges that it was all a ruse so that Haumono get released by the Dogs so that he can sign with Mundine's Dragons... from what i understand, the club knew what was the reason for the London adventure and so, didn't release Haumono but rather left him to rot in reserve grade
i also do not accept that the Mundine-Nasser influence did not impact on SBW and his interactions with the club... for example, why does SBW request an upgrade on his contract which had only been signed the year before? why does SBW not turn up to a crisis dinner with Greenberg to discuss concerns he has but sends Mundine and Nasser? does he sack the Orr brothers (who themselves were no angels) without Mundine's influence? does SBW take up boxing (just as have Quade Cooper, Haumono etc.) if not for Mundine's influence? how about negotiating a contract for weeks/months with Toulon only 6 months after your new, 5 year contract with the 'Dogs started?
it is amazing to me how malleable these players become around Mundine and such an influence would worry me