League: Kearney not giving up on Stacey yet

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney says it would be silly not to ask Stacey Jones to play for the Kiwis next month. Photo / Brett Phibbs

SYDNEY - Kiwis rugby league coach Stephen Kearney says he won't believe Stacey Jones has retired from test football until he hears it from the man himself.

Kearney said Jones remained in the test equation for the world champions to face the Kangaroos in Brisbane on May 8 and he would call the mercurial halfback this week for a chat.

"I'll be meeting the selectors in the next few days and getting their opinions. Stacey's playing good footy at the moment and I'm not 100 per cent sure if he's available," Kearney said.

"I think he's retired a couple of times from the Kiwis but it would be silly for me not to make sure. It's quite obvious what he can bring to a team."

Jones indicated to reporters in recent weeks he was unavailable for an international return.

The 32-year-old played the last of his 46 tests in the epic Tri-Nations final loss to the Kangaroos in Sydney in 2006 after linking up with French club Catalans.

He was lured back to the Warriors this season and, after inspiring their second round upset of premiers Manly, was at it again last Sunday, setting up tries then kicking the winning field goal against the Sydney Roosters.

Along with frontliners Roy Asotasi, Frank Pritchard and Iosia Soliola, who missed the World Cup through injury, Jones would add to the long list of contenders for the much-awaited rematch.

Mercifully for Kearney there were no major injury concerns, although there remained two NRL rounds to negotiate.

There will be one notable absentee from the World Cup triumph, with Kearney revealing captain Nathan Cayless had confirmed his international retirement after a decade-long 38-test career.

"Nathan told me about a month ago and it wasn't a big surprise. He didn't really want to make it too public. I knew he was thinking about it after the final but he didn't want to divert attention from the boys' win."

Kearney wouldn't label Cayless' successor until after he'd spoken with fellow-selectors Howie Tamati, Darrell Williams and Tony Kemp later this week.

Former skipper Asotasi appeared the standout although Kearney was clearly a fan of Jeremy Smith, the Kiwis' player of the World Cup.

"Jeremy's an obvious contender. He's making a big impact with the Dragons and he did a great job for the Kiwis last year."

The Melbourne assistant coach Kearney got a close-up look at key playmaker Benji Marshall's form on Monday in the Tigers' upset win.

While Tigers coach Tim Sheens played Marshall at halfback this year, he looks likely to reclaim the Kiwis' No 6 jersey and team up with Jones, if available, or Nathan Fien.

"I don't see the role as too much different, regardless of what jersey he's wearing. We'd still expect him to touch the ball a lot and we all know what he's capable of."

Kearney looked forward to matching wits with Sheens, who takes over the Kangaroos from Ricky Stuart, and to teaming up with former test teammate Tony Iro who replaces the unavailable Wayne Bennett as assistant coach.

"I know I've benefited from having Wayne around as part of the group; the whole group benefited. He'll be there in spirit."

Kearney said he would also contact Christchurch-born, Sydney-raised forward Eddie Pettybourne to check his availability, although he admitted there was plenty of depth in the bench forward department.

The prop/second rower made an impact with Souths this year but hadn't yet committed to either Australia or New Zealand.

- NZPA