'Retirees' on ARL collision course

[Queenslander]

'Retirees' on ARL collision course
By Barry Dick and Dean Ritchie
April 21, 2006

THE Australian Rugby League is on a collision course with Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy over whether they will be available to torment Queensland in this year's State of Origin series.

Johns and Kennedy want to play in next month's Test against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium but not in the Origin series or end-of-season Tri-Nations tournament but the ARL is adamant players will not be able to pick and choose which representative fixtures they play.

If the ARL stands firm with its "all or nothing" attitude, Johns and Kennedy may be forced to play for the Blues in the Origin series, which starts in Sydney on May 24, or be stood down from NRL matches for their clubs, Newcastle and Manly.

Kennedy yesterday withdrew his application for an exemption from representative football but indicated he wanted to make the May 5 Test his last in a representative jersey.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said the board had approved Kennedy's application but the Manly skipper could not now "pick and choose" which games he played.

"The board can only consider what is put in front of it and Ben's application was to withdraw his application for an exemption," Carr said.

"As far as we are concerned, that means he is available for all representative football in 2006.

"We can't have a situation where players pick and choose which representative games they play.

"Ideally every player in the game should be available to represent their state and country but we do take into account the long service certain players have given and will continue to treat each application for exemption on its merits."

Kennedy, 32, yesterday told Manly he would retire at the end of the 2006 NRL season so his availability for the end-of-season Tri-Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand would not be an issue.

Late yesterday, his manager said he thought Kennedy would be available for NSW but that was not the impression the Sea Eagles skipper gave at his media conference, where he mentioned only the Test.

"Playing for my country remains close to my heart and I have made myself available to play if chosen," Kennedy said.

"Coach Ricky Stuart had a lot to do with my early career in the game and it would be wonderful to play my last Test match alongside Andrew Johns.

"There is the nightmare of that heavy defeat at the hands of the Kiwis last year."

Johns, 32 next month, has said he wants to play against the Kiwis but not in the State of Origin series but he has not applied for an exemption.

"Players say things in the media from time to time but the ARL has not heard from 'Joey'," Carr, who is also general manager of the New South Wales Rugby League, said.

"He has not made an application for an exemption. As far as we are concerned he is available (for Origin)."

Johns and Kennedy were outstanding for NSW in last year's series, which NSW won 2-1 and there was a strong school of thought the Maroons would have won the series if the pair had not been there.

News Limited newspapers

[Dakink]

If I was Johns or BK, Id say cool we'll play then withdraw after the tests.

May be selfisfh but both have a right to decide their future. The SOO is a lot more gruelling than a one of test.

[..::Coops::..]

imo , with johns he is still playing rep footy at moment right?? but he is saying he will retire after the test - BK on the other hand has retired already and is comming back, so he shouldn't be able to say i want to come back for one game. if he hadn't retired already i would be fine with him retiring after teh test and not playing origin.

[Queenslander]

ARL Revisits Kangaroo Selection Policy
Friday, April 21, 2006 - 4:01 PM

The Australian Rugby League today continued progress towards the completion of a new blueprint covering the entire question of player availability for representative football.

With champion players Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy back in the spotlight as the kickoff to the biggest representative season of the modern era nears, ARL Chief Executive Geoff Carr announced that the draft policy under development would be tabled at the League’s next board meeting and would deal with all aspects of what he described as “the grey areas and changing circumstances surrounding senior players in today’s game. Arriving at a perfect, all-encompassing solution is a challenge because there will always be variations from player to player and situation to situation.

“For example there will probably always exist for a coach and selectors the temptation to 'invite back’ as a one-off measure an exempted star player when sudden injuries or other factors have cut a huge hole in a rep team. But we are dedicated to making any adjustments we believe necessary, in tune with the times - and to have the right procedures firmly in place.

“Recently, we have been involved in discussion along the lines of looking at adjusting the rules to cater for what is always going to be only a small number of ageing superstars. After all, cricket has a rotation policy designed to look after senior elite players, and so does a club world leader such as Manchester United (soccer).

“The current rules have served our game well these last 30 years. But we realise that rugby league is always a `work in progress’ and that rules need to be re-visited and re-considered on an ongoing basis.

"The guidelines need to reflect the demands placed on players today and also what has always been the ideal basis for all representative rugby league: to have the best players available, and playing. The ARL understands the need for absolute clarity for all involved as the game heads on - and the current questions surrounding Johns and Kennedy have placed the whole issue under review. We will aim for a template that is fair to both the champion players who have given distinguished service to the game, and equally to the new generation of stars who are in the representative picture.”



Source: NRL

[Dakink]

Good to see the powers that be taking a evolutionary tact rather than a reactionary one. If they show they have the players welfare in consideration, the players are going to be more likely to put in for them.

Good work. Still think Johns should be able to play the test and not the SOO though.

[Queenslander]

It's your call
Steve Ricketts

April 22, 2006

FORMER Test prop Shane Webcke has blasted plans by the Australia Rugby League to relax the rules governing player availability for representative football.

Webcke said on Friday the ARL risked a situation where players could pick and choose matches and he urged the introduction of "hard and fast" rules to avoid making a mockery of the representative scene.

The proposed changes would allow NSW to bring in Andrew Johns for a one-off appearance in a State of Origin decider.

"If you play in the NRL as a matter of course you should be available for representative football," Webcke said. "Exemptions should only be granted to injured players and players who have reached a certain age, say 30 or 31."

Webcke was granted an exemption from representative football early last year aged 30 after playing 20 Tests and 21 State of Origin matches for Queensland, but the proposed ARL rule changes would allow the Broncos star to play a one-off Test or Origin match without having to commit to the rest of the representative program.

"It would take a team of one million wild horses to move me after making my decision to retire," he said. "I made that decision for valid reasons and nothing has changed."

North Queensland Cowboys winger Matt Sing, 31, lodged an exemption request on Friday with the ARL after a career spanning 24 Origin matches for Qld and 15 Tests.

Sing was rated a near certainty for the Test against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week and his decision to retire from rep football has thrown one wing spot wide open with Melbourne's Matt King pencilled in for the other.

Decisions on whether to keep playing representative football are always difficult for senior players with Andrew Johns (Newcastle) and Ben Kennedy (Manly) keen to play in the Trans-Tasman Test but reluctant to commit to a gruelling Origin campaign with NSW.

Kennedy sought an exemption from representative football at the start of the season but at Thursday's ARL Board meeting in Sydney he was successful in having the exemption overturned so he could play in the Brisbane Test.

But the ARL made it clear Kennedy could not pick and choose his games and if he played in the Test he also had to be available for Origin or risk being stood down from NRL matches.

On Friday the ARL had an about face after a telephone hook-up of directors instructed chief executive Geoff Carr to draft a new representative football policy.

Carr said the policy would be based partly on Australian Cricket's rotation system, which ensures senior players like Glenn McGrath are not forced into premature retirement.

"Maybe our current all-or-nothing approach is a bit harsh and not appropriate to 2006," Carr said. "If the Origin series is 1-all and Queensland need Shane Webcke is that good for the game that he can't play unless he also commits to the Tri-Nations?

"The current rule is a product of the 1970s when some Sydney players made themselves unavailable for interstate matches to play club football.

"The changes we have in mind are designed to lessen the burden on our game's ageing superstars."

Webcke said the ARL's about-face again illustrated the need for one governing body and one set of rules.

"It's a hobby horse of mine but rugby league needs to streamline its operations," he said.

The Courier Mail

[Steve Dangerous]

wait.. so sing's not playing the test OR origin? damn. qld will miss him.

[Queenslander]

wait.. so sing's not playing the test OR origin? damn. qld will miss him.

Yeah Sing is a huge loss for both Queensland and Australia. But the upside is that the Cowboys will have him during State of Origin time. :)

[Queenslander]

Call their bluff says Bennett
By Wayne Heming
April 22, 2006

FORMER Australian coach Wayne Bennett says officials have to "call the bluff" of players coming out of retirement to make one-off or farewell Test appearances.

Newcastle's Andrew Johns will be allowed play a farewell Test against the Kiwis next month but will not have to make himself available for the State of Origin series.

The decision which has prompted other players to come out of retirement in the hope of being part of Johns' last hurrah.

But Bennett says Australian Rugby League has to be tough and stand firm on its policy that any player available to play for his country also has to be ready to play Origin.

Ben Kennedy is the latest player to do a representative backflip and declare he is available for Test selection but not Origin duty.

"I was certainly keen to see Joey play in the Test match but it's starting to become a multitude of numbers," said Bennett today.

"That's the problem when you make one rule for one guy, everyone starts to think 'why can't I be a part of that'.

"They probably have got themselves a bit of a dilemma now.

"But it's easily solved, you call their bluff.

"If you play in the first Test, then barring injury you can be picked for State of Origin.

"If you don't make yourself available, you don't play for your club.

"That will sort them out pretty quick I tell you."

If the ARL is serious about playing by the rules, both Johns and Kennedy should have to back-up for NSW in the Origin series or at least be available for selection.

Kennedy has withdrawn his application form for representative exemption this year but has indicated he only wants to be considered for the Anzac Test and nothing else.

The 32-year-old Manly skipper has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said it was his understanding that Kennedy had now made himself available for all representative fixtures in 2006.

In making an exemption for Johns, the ARL has made a rod for its own back.

Bennett warned they would face more and more similar cases unless they stood firm and applied to rules to everyone.

AAP