League: NRL clubs dislike World Cup timing

SYDNEY - The Kiwis maybe on top of the world right now, but the chance to prove their No 1 status at a World Cup remains in doubt after National Rugby League (NRL) clubs, including the New Zealand Warriors, expressed concern at its timing in 2008.

Resurrecting the World Cup concept after an eight-year hiatus was trumpeted as a tool to reinvigorate the code globally by the International Federation of Rugby League.

Unfortunately NRL clubs, already concerned at player workload, reacted less than favourably when told the five-week tournament was scheduled for Australia and New Zealand in February-March 2008 -- effectively wiping out the traditional pre-season training period.

Although planning for a 10-team Cup was still in its infancy, it may never get off the ground with Australian clubs unhappy with it being held before a long hard slog to the NRL grand final.

English Super league clubs would be similarly unimpressed with a five-week tournament after their grand final, leaving the International Federation with plenty of arm twisting to do.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah echoed the concerns of clubs expressed at the NRL's annual conference that wound up in Sydney yesterday.

"It would force a lot of players out of the pre-season system for the clubs and you run the risk of burn out before the season.

"From a Warriors' perspective you're not just taking the Kiwis out. You're losing Australians, Samoans, Tongans, Rarotongans.

"There's 10 teams including five that pre-qualify.

"Our main fear is there'd be 15 or 20 players out of a squad and that would make it nearly impossible to prepare a team for the NRL."

Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr outlined the World Cup plan to the chief executives of the 15 existing clubs -- and the new Gold Coast franchise -- emphasising the timing of the tournament was far from set in stone.

Scurrah said it would be difficult to agree on what was the best time for the tournament.

"The concern is the players' welfare with burnout and that will be there whether it is held late 2007 or early 2008."

Despite the obvious reluctance of NRL clubs to interrupt their pre-season, Scurrah was optimistic the Cup would be held at some point.

"They (clubs) are supportive of international football but they don't want it to destroy the NRL that season.

"No one's anti it, it's just back to the drawing board."

- NZPA