KEY POINTS:
Maybe the New Zealand Rugby League should engineer things so that it remains in the debt of its Australian counterpart.
While we owe them money they go into bat for us against the English in pushing for the release of our players for the Kiwis, it seems.
Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai will play the annual Anzac and the Centenary test against the Kangaroos in Sydney next Friday - barring mysterious anti-flying injuries suffered in the next round of Super League this weekend - after the Rugby League International Federation yesterday ordered their release from Leeds and Wigan respectively.
The two clubs made a joint approach to the RLIF early yesterday stating that Webb and Leuluai should be excused from test duty citing player welfare, given the long trip and short preparation for that game and more on their return to England.
The RLIF executive, which consists of chairman Colin Love from the ARL plus secretary David Gallop from the NRL and England Rugby Football League chairman Richard Lewis, held a teleconference yesterday on the issue. Afterwards it was announced that the clubs would be told to release the players.
Two Aussies to one Englishman - and the Aussies want to see the money they loaned the NZRL returned via the game - so the vote was no contest.
The RLIF executive said that there were no grounds not to impose international Rule 4.1 which states: "Except as otherwise determined by the board in respect of a particular match, a player who has been selected to play a senior international match approved as such by the board for a country for which he is eligible must be made available by his club for all such matches for which he is selected and for training sessions where possible."
If Webb and Leuluai do not arrive in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday respectively to prepare for the test, they are ineligible to play in the Super League this weekend and the Challenge Cup next weekend.
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden expressed thanks for the support from the RLIF, the ARL and the ERFL.
"We tried to do everything the right way to ensure their [players] involvement. While this ruling is important for the Kiwis and this test, it's more significant for international rugby league in the widest sense," he said.
Webb (16 tests 2004-06) and Leuluai (11 tests 2003-07) are behind only Nathan Cayless (33), David Kidwell (24) and Roy Asotasi (22) for international appearances.
