Barnett is confident of making World Cup

SYDNEY - Kiwis captain Richie Barnett is confident of playing at the rugby league World Cup, providing his shattered face continues to heal at a rapid rate.

With the World Cup in Britain and France still more than three months away, Barnett is convinced he will have recovered fully from the horrendous facial injuries he suffered in a head clash with Australian winger Wendell Sailor in April's Anzac test in Sydney.

The injury required a lengthy operation to his shattered nose and cheekbones, with 10 permanent plates inserted in his face and his jaw wired.

It has kept him sidelined throughout the Sydney Roosters' National Rugby League campaign, but he will be all right to take up his contract with London Broncos next year.

"And I'm feeling confident I'll be able to play at the World Cup," the 29-year-old Barnett said yesterday.

"It's looking pretty good. I guess the closer I get to getting back to fitness and being healthy again, the more realistic chance I have of making it. The healing process has improved and so has my likelihood of being able to play."

That is good news for Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, who will need all his big guns fit at the World Cup if they are to turn around the 0-52 drubbing suffered in the Anzac test.

It seems likely they will be without inspirational second rower Jarrod McCracken, whose neck is still tender from a spear tackle by Kiwis team-mate Stephen Kearney 10 weeks ago.

Barnett, a veteran of 20 tests, was running and lifting weights with ease alongside his Roosters team-mates yesterday but was not doing any contact work.

Externally, his face has returned to normal and his vision is now at 80 per cent capacity, a relief after being told his eyesight was in danger for the first six weeks of his recovery.

"In certain areas it would be really blurry, like looking to my left. Or if there was a light shining it would deter how I would see things.

"At one stage it was looking pretty grim but it has improved day by day and I've been told it will gradually get better and better."

Barnett said that thoughts of retirement had entered his head early in his recovery.

"I thought about it at the start while I was going through the trauma. But I guess once I started getting fitter and healthier, a lot of things changed.

"Now the most disappointing thing for me is to leave the NRL the way I have without playing a full season and finishing on a good note.

"It's hard knowing that the Roosters could make the grand final this year."

- NZPA