Ruben Wiki: No greater honour than the Kiwi jersey

I must admit I'm having a good chuckle over the club vs country debate that's dominating talk in Australia because it has been something we've been arguing about for years.

Joey Johns has come under fire for saying he wants an exemption from playing against the Kiwis in the first Tri Nations test if Warrington make the Super League grand final. This has upset former Australian players like Tom Raudonikis and Gorden Tallis who are saying it "devalues" the jersey if Johns doesn't play in the test.

But Kiwi players have been asked to put club ahead of country for years. Isn't there a double standard here? Each season players are hounded by their clubs to pull out of the Kiwis because they have an injury that needs sorting out.

Fortunately it hasn't ever happened to me but Benji Marshall is one who could come under enormous pressure from the Tigers this year to withdraw from the Tri Nations. Then there will be the pressure from the NZRL to pull on the black jersey.

Benji's been struggling with a shoulder injury and might need to go under the knife - I hope he doesn't. I was lucky enough to be there when he played his first test and I know what it meant to him. If he rang me and asked me for advice I'd have trouble telling him to pull out of playing for the Kiwis.

It's something he must decide for himself but, for me, it's the biggest honour to play for your country and I wouldn't let anything get in the way of that dream.

As a player it's disappointing when team-mates pull out for one reason or another because the side is obviously weakened.

The Aussies are also talking about selecting Jamie Lyon, who plays for St Helens in the UK Super League. They've had a rule about not picking guys who play in the Super League but suddenly they're prepared to break their own rules.

Again, isn't this a double standard? The international regulations really need to be sorted out so it doesn't turn into a slanging match every year.

Another thing that left me scratching my head this week were Hugh McGahan's comments that the "mental fortitude" of some Polynesian players at the Warriors is lacking.

I just don't know where he's coming from and wonder if he's actually been watching our games this season. Last year we were known as the 20-minute team but there has been a massive change at the Warriors this year in terms of fitness, body language and leadership, as well as improvements mentally and physically.

The stats suggest we are one of the most consistent teams in the NRL and he should have a look at that before he jumps all over us.

In the end we've lost a lot of close ones and it has come down to something as simple as a ref's call, a bounce of a ball or a dropped pass.

To say it's the Polynesian influence is a bit of a kick in the guts. The guys put their bodies on the line ever week for each other and we've really grown up this year.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY