League: NZRL face club v country replay over Vainikolo

1.00pm

English rugby league club Bradford were today adamant that Kiwis back Lesley Vainikolo would miss the rest of the Tri-Nations series after this weekend's test against Australia in London.

In a case reminiscent of the Tony Puletua saga last week, the Bulls said Vainikolo could play against the Kangaroos on Saturday (Sunday NZT).

But the winger, who was in prolific try-scoring form in the just-completed English Super League this season, would have knee surgery next week.

Vainikolo, who has 12 caps, was one of five British-based players added to the Kiwis tour party after the opening trans-Tasman test in Auckland last weekend.

Three of them -- Vainikolo and fellow Bulls Robbie Paul and Logan Swann -- were named yesterday in the test 17 to face the Kangaroos at Loftus Road.

However, the New Zealand Rugby League has found itself in a replay of the tug-of-war over Puletua, who was recalled to Sydney after the Auckland test for ankle surgery.

The Panthers refused the NZRL's request for Puletua to tour Britain, insisting there was not enough time to complete rehabilitation before the start of the National Rugby League season.

Bradford football manager Stuart Duffy said Vainikolo's operation was originally scheduled for this week.

After Vainikolo's selection for the Kiwis was announced last Sunday morning (NZT), the Bulls agreed to a one-week postponement because of the player's desire to represent New Zealand.

However, Duffy said Vainikolo would not take part in the rest of tournament, which includes two New Zealand-Great Britain tests and a final in Leeds on November 27.

"He's obviously struggling with the knee."

Duffy added that the decision was made in consultation with Bradford coach Brian Noble, who is also coach of Great Britain and is in camp in Spain with the national squad.

"We were not informed of Lesley's selection until Monday and we informed the NZRL of our position immediately," he said.

"He needs this operation as quickly as possible because obviously we need to ensure he is fit for the start of our season."

Duffy said the club had replied to the NZRL's request for Vainikolo's medical records, with the specialist's report having been sent to the NZRL in Auckland and team management in London.


NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson said he did not want to buy into suggestions that Bradford and Great Britain were genuinely preventing Vainikolo from playing against Great Britain.

"If one tells me that a player needs to go for surgery after playing one game then I have to accept that," Pearson told Radio Sport.

"Having said that, look at the whole farce with Tony Puletua. Their medics tell us the recovery period for Tony is 14 weeks and Dr (John) Mayhew, one of the best in the business and whose seen these injuries a million times, says recuperation time is six to eight weeks.

"We pointed that out, they (Penrith) said "whether it's six weeks or 14 ... don't care -- he's not going and if he does he'll have serious financial repercussions'.

"I'm not able to say the same with Bradford. I guess I have to say 'thanks Bradford for letting Lesley stump up against Australia' but he's not available against Great Britain because he's got to go under the knife."

Pearson said he wasn't suggesting the operation on Vainikolo was a ploy to make him unavailable for the game against Great Britain.

" If it was, you'd probably rate it along there somewhere with -- maybe they wanted to come up with something better than the Australian underarm bowling incident."

Pearson said Vainikolo was now in the New Zealand camp and he's likely to get a second opinion from the Kiwis medical team but wasn't sure if that would change Bradford's mind.

Team manager Gordon Gibbons today declined to comment on the issue, saying the matter was in the hands of the NZRL.

Vainikolo, 25, scored in Bradford's Super League grand final loss to Leeds last weekend to take his season's tally of tries to a phenomenal 39.

He and Leeds halfback Danny McGuire, who also crossed in the grand final, finished on the same total, as they smashed the previous Super League record of 29.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis went one better than the Kangaroos this morning, visiting the House of Lords at Westminster and having brunch in the Lords' Jubilee Room.

The Australians also visited the British Parliament, their trip yesterday being through the Commons.

- NZPA