Rugby League: First-class seats to keep Pauls fresh

By Peter Jessup

The New Zealand Rugby League yesterday booked first-class air tickets to get the Paul brothers, Henry and Robbie, to Sydney for Good Friday's Anzac test, thus sidestepping a row over their availability.

The Pauls will fly into Sydney on the Tuesday morning as fresh as possible after the first-class flight, taking the heat out of coach Frank Endacott's threat not to pick the dynamic duo should their preparation be unsatisfactory.

Their club, Bradford, has insisted they play a premiership match against Salford on the Sunday before the Anzac international.

The Rugby League International Federation will convene an urgent meeting in London in a fortnight to sort out the issue of player availability for tests.