Rugby League: Barnett not yet ready to face big choices

By PETER JESSUP

Kiwi rugby league captain Richie Barnett cannot wait for Monday, May 22, the day surgeons will unpick the wires that are holding his shattered face together.

He has not had anything more solid than a fruit smoothie since the Good Friday Anzac test in Sydney in which his nose and both cheekbones were shattered after a collision with Australian wing Wendell Sailor.

"There are wires sewn through my gums to hold everything in place. I'm not quite a horror movie star but it's not a pretty sight," he said yesterday in a rigid, teeth-gritted monotone.

Barnett is thankful he cannot feel anything - the wiring is not at all painful - just the lack of a decent meal keeps his mood low.

The Roosters and Kiwi fullback remembers nothing of the sickening head clash with Sailor as both went for a bouncing ball, although he has watched it on video.

"It's a weird feeling," he said. "I can remember going for that ball and that's all, nothing afterwards."

"Afterwards" was being carried on a stretcher-bearing cart to an ambulance, a dash to hospital, and a fitful night in which his throat was cut open to allow him to breathe after swelling and blood clots shut his air passages.

It was his 29th birthday that night, one he would like to forget. But Barnett's thoughts are as much for the team, for what the 52-0 loss did to New Zealand league, as for himself.

"The preparation was disgraceful. I knew on the day we weren't as ready as we should have been. We weren't as ready as the Aussies.

"They were mentally focused after the shock we gave them in the tri-series last year and we just weren't tuned in at all.

"We have to come up with something different in future. If we can't get our players released and all together a week beforehand we shouldn't play."

Barnett has spoken little, other than to his partner, Carrie - now 14 weeks pregnant with their first child - since his surgery.

Sailor called, but Barnett could not speak.

The big Brisbane wing sent a get-well fax and has telephoned Barnett's agent regularly for updates on his progress.

Bruising had settled this week and Barnett was able to start gym work.

Doctors yesterday set the date for removal of the wire holding his face together. Barnett is looking forward to a big meal of steak and seafood.

He would not think about his future in league yesterday, admitting he was feeling down but that things would be very different when the braces were off, he had a full stomach, and was back to full strength.

"At the moment I don't know how I'm going to be either mentally or physically."

He had suffered the sort of injury that had made him think twice about going on in the game, but he would not make a rash or rushed decision about his future.