League: Aussie bosses question Fien's Kiwis status

Nathan Fien

Nathan Fien has declared himself "Kiwi through and through" in the latest selection controversy to strike - or possibly promote - the Tri-Nations series.

Australia yesterday sought clarification over whether Queenslander Fien, the Warriors hooker, was eligible to debut for the Kiwis in Melbourne tomorrow night, a year before he would meet the three-year residency requirement.

A shoulder injury to Dene Halatau, who should be fit again next week, has thrust Fien into the spotlight in more ways than one.

Kiwi coach Brian McClennan named Fien on the bench, and promoted interchange utility Jerome Ropati to hooker.

A crowd of 30,000 is predicted at the Telstra Dome in Australian Rules country, and the uninitiated may be unaware of the dramas embedded in this series.

They have not been entirely unwelcome either. Former first grade forward Mario Fenech, now a league marketer, quipped to Kangaroo prop Willie Mason: "I didn't know you had a marketing degree?"

Mason, of "haka-gate" fame, has led the charge in loudly questioning the loyalties of Kiwis such as converted Australian Brent Webb.

There is also suggestion that cases such as Fien's dilute test football and the meaning of playing for the Kiwis.

Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr rang the New Zealand Rugby League chairman, Sel Bennett, yesterday seeking confirmation of Fien's status.

Carr told the Herald it was a prudent move before the game. He was left satisfied that Fien qualified through his Wanganui-born grandmother.

Even affable Australian second rower Nathan Hindmarsh raised an eyebrow under his bushy mop saying: "Strange? Yeah. He [Fien] does seem Australian. Don't know his family background so I can't say too much."

The 27-year-old Fien brushed aside criticism saying he wanted to forge a long Kiwis career.

"I've made my decision now and I'm Kiwi through and through. I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel that way," Fien said.

"There won't be any turning back. This is not a one-off - I'm a very proud sort of bloke.

"I relate to the Kiwi way of life, the underdog and that type of thing. But no, if I had stayed in Australia I wouldn't have thought about it.

"The Aussies might be upset but then shouldn't Kiwis be upset about Willie Mason. He was born in Auckland but plays for Australia.

"So where do you draw the line?"

Fien's paternal grandmother, who he never met before she passed away, and great-grandfather, who was born in Patea, form a Kiwi heritage line.

Fien pointed out that he and wife Belinda, who have two young kids, are happily settled in Auckland and their daughter is New Zealand-born.

Fien, from the North Queensland mining town of Mt Isa, had his Kiwi interest fired during last year's Tri Nations.

Fien said: "We're sort of like a Kiwi bloodline which skipped my father's generation.

"[Kiwi captain] Ruben Wiki was very welcoming and he said 'why not, you've got the heritage'."

Such is the interest - at least in the media - about national loyalties that other pressing matters went almost unnoticed.

For a start, Fien has played just 40 minutes of football in the past 11 weeks since injuring his back against Cronulla.

Ropati is a dummy half novice, although he made a few runs from there in the first test.

He also fills in for the Warriors and as part of the Tri-Nations preparation, McClennan watched every Ropati dummy half run courtesy of the advanced NRL video system.

Bottom line though - Ropati is hardly a test class dummy half.

Fien is set to play about 15 minutes each side of halftime. Time will tell if he can return later.

Meanwhile, Carr confirmed he requested a copy of Fien's grandmother's birth certificate, which was supplied. "We didn't ask for DNA," Carr replied, when asked how far the investigation would go. Fien declared Australian loyalties when he played a State of Origin match in 2001, so Australia may not be amused.

"None of us really care," said McClennan, when asked if boos could ring around the ground.