Tri Nations almost certain to proceed

Talk about NRL, State of Origin, Tests, Four Nations, World Cup, everything rugby league

Moderator: GH Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145114
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

Tri Nations almost certain to proceed

Post by greeneyed »

Thankfully it looks like the narrow interests of some NRL clubs will be over-ruled.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Coaches rail against Tri-Nations
By Ray Gatt
March 4, 2005

THE Australian Rugby League's revelation that the Tri-Nations series is almost certain to take place at the end of the season has again put them in the line of fire from NRL coaches.

Despite concerns from some quarters, ARL chief executive Geoff Carr told a media briefing yesterday the international series featuring Australia, New Zealand and Britain is "99 per cent" certain to figure in a crowded calendar after its raging success last year.

The Kangaroos, who play New Zealand in two Tests - most likely in Brisbane on October 15 and then in New Zealand a week later - will return home for six days' rest before heading to England for the remainder of the series.

While the six-day hiatus has been endorsed by the players association, it was not enough to change Penrith coach John Lang's view that the series should be cut this season.

Lang, Bulldogs premiership-winning coach Steve Folkes and Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald are opposed to the Tri-Nations because of the heavy workload it places on the players.

The pre-season started almost a month ago and the campaign for some elite players won't finish until after the Tri-Nations in late November.

Including trials, club fixtures and finals as well as representative games, the code's top players will turn out for almost 40 matches this year and that has coaches and club officials concerned about player burnout.

"The new system makes it marginally easier, but I still don't see the need for the Tri-Nations to be played every year. It is overkill," Lang said.

"We have Kangaroo tours every four years and Britain come out here every second year and that is enough.

"Look, the Australians are not the only ones affected. The English won't have much of a break either and they will stagger into the series.

"Imagine if they cop a beating. That wouldn't be good and it would undo all the excellent work and progress they have made."

Carr, however, was at pains to make it known that the players were fully behind the Tri-Nations.

"The players came to us about the matter and said they would be happy if a particular format was put in place," Carr said last night.

"We've done that. The players and the players association are happy with that and have endorsed what we are doing.

"The simple fact is we would not have done it without the support of the players.

"I can understand (Lang's) view. He is looking at it from a club's perspective and fair enough. He is entitled to to do that.

"But we have to look at the overall benefits and interests for the game. With the World Cup coming up we believe this is the way to go."

However, Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes backed Lang's view to scrap the international series this year. As premiers, the Bulldogs also played last month's World Club Challenge against Leeds in England.

"It's just too much football. You treat them like pieces of meat and they're not," Folkes said.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are certain to be without prop Josh Perry and utility Riley Brown for their opening match against Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park on Sunday week, while five-eighth Kurt Gidley is battling a quadriceps strain.

The trio was injured in the trial match against Cronulla last Saturday night in Gosford, with Perry (wrist) and Brown (elbow) expected to miss up to six weeks.

Perry underwent an arthroscopy yesterday after an MRI scan revealed the extent of damage to his wrist, while Brown hyper-extended his left elbow in making a tackle and tore a medial ligament.

Melbourne Storm have lost former Bulldogs backrower Jamie Feeney for at least a month to a knee injury.

Feeney, who joined Melbourne this year, is not expected to make his official Storm debut until next month's fourth round when Melbourne take on the Brisbane Broncos at Olympic Park.

The Australian
Image
User avatar
Roger Kenworthy
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11506
Joined: January 7, 2005, 10:18 pm
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki, J-Lo, Jordan Rapana

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

Couldn't care less either way. Don't waste my time watching international league, waste it here mocking 69 instead :lol: .
User avatar
SOULS 04
Jason Croker
Posts: 4320
Joined: January 25, 2005, 1:00 am
Location: Central Coast

Post by SOULS 04 »

if its on every year i think illget over it
have to change it up a bit in internationals
THE GREEN MACHINE PODCAST - https://soundcloud.com/user-792269565
Inactive

Post by Inactive »

Imo we need to have an 'international' exposure for RL ... limited as it may be. Maybe a tournament every two years will bear less strain on the players and in fact make them more enthusiastic to participate.
thickos
Laurie Daley
Posts: 14032
Joined: January 8, 2005, 1:05 pm

Post by thickos »

I think every two years would be good, but they really want the game to expand in France, PNG, Russia and the US before World Cup 2008 (which is also the centenary of the game in Australia).
David Furner Fan
Simon Woolford
Posts: 461
Joined: January 12, 2005, 10:06 pm
Favourite Player: David Shillington
Location: Born and raised in England

Post by David Furner Fan »

I'm glad that the Tri Nations will probably be given the go ahead, but I'd like to see it been played Down Under.
The only way the British come away with a win if it's on our home soil and we have to get use to other conditions so our game can progress to a higher level.
Gold member 4198#

Bay 55, Row C, Seat 3.. Canberra fan from afar
Post Reply