League: Kiwis told to stand up to clubs

New Kiwis coach Brian McClennan says players have more power than they think and need to stand up to their clubs in the club vs country debate.

The Kiwis have often been robbed of some of their better players because clubs have demanded they withdraw from internationals on medical grounds. This was no better illustrated than during last season's Tri-Nations, when Sonny Bill Williams, Matt Utai, Tony Puletua and Joe Galuvao were all forced to return to Australia by their clubs after the first or second game of the series for off-season surgery.

The debate has already surfaced ahead of October's Tri-Nations, with Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad saying, jokingly or otherwise, that Williams is unlikely to be released. There are also doubts over the availability of Utai and Benji Marshall, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury all season.

Although New Zealand Rugby League vice chairman Selwyn Bennett has said they will "go to war" over the issue, McClennan is more circumspect and is asking his players to stand up to their clubs.

"My take is that it's got to be up to the player," McClennan said. "The player has got to stick up for himself. If he wants to play for the Kiwis, he should play for the Kiwis. Players have more power than they realise, and you have to remember these are the top players in the world."

Coincidentally, McClennan spent last week with the Bulldogs, something he arranged prior to getting the job as Kiwis coach, as part of his own efforts to improve as a coach.

He met with Noad and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes - "we agreed to disagree on the issue," McClennan said - and had dinner with a number of Kiwi players, including Williams, to discuss his plans.

"These boys love playing for New Zealand," McClennan explained of the players he met. "The pride they have in the black jersey is overwhelming and I can assure you that every player I have spoken to, and I've spoken to a number, wants to play for New Zealand."

McClennan confirmed that UK-based players who were involved in the Super League grand final would not be considered for the first two games of the Tri-Nations.

The UK final is played less than 12 hours after the first test between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on October 15, and could include Ali Lauitiiti and Vinnie Anderson considering Leeds and St Helens are favoured to make the final.

McClennan said it was unfair to fly finalists back for the second test in Auckland a week later, then expect them to return to the UK, where the rest of the Tri-Nations is to be played.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY