League: Off-field antics highlight need for rule review

By PETER JESSUP


The dirty tricks that continued yesterday in the build-up to the next games of the Tri-Nations series underline the need for the international body to tighten its rules and its hold over the professional clubs.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble has hobbled his Bradford Bulls wing Lesley Vainikolo for the Kiwis-Lions games by demanding he present himself for knee surgery, but the try-scoring blockbuster is allowed to play against Australia this weekend.

It's a repeat of the Tony Puletua case. Again, the New Zealand Rugby League has requested all medical information, and team medic Dr Chris Hanna will examine Vainikolo, talk to the club doctor and provide an opinion on what treatment the wing needs, whether it is immediate, and whether delaying it will affect his 2005 club season.

But it is clear the international governing body, the Rugby League International Federation, should either appoint an independent medical assessor or insist that decisions on availability are left in the hands of the national medic in each case.

Already there is the suspicion that the Kiwis have been set up as patsies for this competition - they play the Kangaroos in the first two games, with the Lions having the benefit of watching the colonial cousins bash each other.

Noise from the Australian camp yesterday shifted from focus on ground size to the looming refereeing appointment for their games with the Lions, which again suggests some nervousness following the Albany draw that they may not make the final.

The ARL had insisted that New Zealand's nomination to the officiating panel, Glen Black, referee the New Zealand A-Jim Beam Cup game that was curtainraiser to the test last Saturday, with his performance to be reviewed by ex-ref Mick Stone before they would accept him.

Despite Stone's report giving Black a pass mark, Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett yesterday slated the Tri-Nations organisers for appointing him because of his lack of top-level international experience.

"Who is Mr Black?" Bennett said, comparing his impending appointment to the Kangaroos taking a player out of state league. "It is absolutely ridiculous - they leave themselves open to ridicule."

It smacks of a man under pressure: It was 1953 when the Kiwis last beat Australia in a series and it appears Bennett is showing signs of fear of going home a loser.

The Kangaroos have made one change to their side for round two at Loftus Stadium, goal-kicker Craig Fitzgibbon coming into the second row, Willie Mason to the bench and Ben Kennedy dropped.

The Kiwis have drafted Vainikolo on to the left wing and Logan Swann into the second row where he partners Ruben Wiki, with Nathan Cayless moving up to start along with brother Jason in the front row, and Paul Rauhihi brought onto the bench.

Ali Lauitiiti was not considered for this test after being allowed time to meet family commitments in San Francisco.

He had an arrangement with the NZRL before the start of the series that he would be in the US for a week after the end of his Super League season and was available after that.

Motu Tony has until today to decide whether to join the squad in England after the birth of his first child.