League: Jones looking forward to passion of playing for Kiwis again

Stacey Jones. Picture / Paul Estcourt

AUCKLAND - Stacey Jones loves the laid-back lifestyle of the south of France, but putting on the Kiwi rugby league jersey is something else.

Jones, 30, is back in Auckland preparing for the Tri-Nations, a tournament he was instrumental in helping New Zealand to win last year after coming out of international retirement.

The champion halfback has just completed his first season with Perpignan-based Les Catalans, whom he joined after 11 years and 238 appearances with the New Zealand Warriors.

The Dragons finished their debut year in the English Super League in bottom spot, with Jones suffering the early setback of spending four months sidelined with a broken arm.

But Jones said today that he, wife Rachelle and their children had no complaints about their time so far in France.

"The footy hasn't been the best but the lifestyle has been fantastic," he said.

"It's just being able to have good quality family time. We've always been close, but we don't have any other family to rely on there so we've all become even closer."

Jones also enjoyed his anonymity in his new surroundings and the freedom to go where he liked without being recognised.

For all that, there was nothing like being back in the Kiwi fold again.

"I don't want to take anything away from my French team, but to be able to play with some world-class players is something very special," he said.

"And it's not only being with world-class players, but with players who are passionate about playing for their country."

In terms of travel, Jones will have a much easier schedule this time around in the Tri-Nations, which begins with a test between the Kiwis and Kangaroos in Auckland on October 14.

Last year, after answering an SOS from new coach Brian McClennan, whose halfback stocks were depleted by injury, Jones agreed to play the two tests against Australia in Auckland and Sydney.

With McClennan making further pleas to his influential playmaker as the tournament shifted to Britain, Jones ended up appearing in every match, as well as in the one-off test against France.

In the eight-day break between the French test in Toulouse and the Tri-Nations final in Leeds, Jones returned to Auckland to be at the birth of his third child.

After the birth, he flew back to England, arriving the day before the title decider with Australia.

McClennan this week described Jones' round-the-world journey and his subsequent contribution in the 24-0 victory in the final as "one of New Zealand's great sporting feats".

Meanwhile, the Kiwis' two heavy defeats since their Tri-Nations triumph looks likely to ensure there is no complacency attached with the label of defending champions.

Jones was still injured when Australia exacted revenge with a 50-12 drubbing in the Anzac test in Brisbane in May.

But he won his 41st cap was part of an understrength Kiwi side who went down 46-14 to Great Britain at St Helens the following month.

"Both times, we were embarrassed," he said.

"We were brought back down to earth, so it doesn't really matter that we won it last year."

Having seen the Great Britain players close up in the Super League, Jones said the Lions would be a strong side with a tough set of forwards and dangerous halves in Sean Long and Danny McGuire.

But they would also be coming off a long season and making a trip downunder for the first time in seven years.

"They haven't toured for a long time," Jones said.

"So we really have to take advantage of that."

- NZPA