Brent Todd in league tug-of-war

Press, 26 September 1989, Page 40

Brent Todd in league tug-of-war

By

JOHN COFFEY

New Zealand and Canberra Raiders rugby league officials yesterday had conflicting views on when Brent Todd would be leaving Australia to join the Kiwi touring team in England.

One of the heroes of Canberra’s first New South Wales premiership triumph, Todd is scheduled to fly from Sydney in company with one of last Sunday’s Balmain rivals, Gary Freeman.

But amid all the celebrations in the Australian capital yesterday there was a strong hint that Freeman might be travelling alone. A spokesman at the Canberra Raiders office in Queanbeyan expressed surprise when asked when Todd would be leaving to join the Kiwis at their headquarters in York. She was firmly of the view that Todd would not be available to the Kiwis until after Canberra’s “world club challenge” against the British champion, Widnes, at Old Trafford, Manchester, on October 4. “His first commitment is to Canberra. The Canberra Raiders come first and New Zealand second. He won’t be leaving here until Friday,” she said.

But Michael Knowles, the N.Z.R.L. executive director, was just as steadfast in his belief that the New Zealand test prop forward was required to give country preference over club.

Mr Knowles said he had no contact with anyone in Canberra yesterday, but the matter had been clarified at the last meeting of the International Rugby

League Board. He conceded it was possible word had not filtered down from the Australian Rugby League to its affiliated clubs.

“It was a unanimous decision of all nations that no New Zealanders required for the touring team be permitted to take part in the world club challenge match,” said Mr Knowles. “This is not an N.Z.R.L. ruling. It was made by the international board to protect the integrity of tours. The ruling does not just affect New Zealand — Australia is to tour Britain next year and the situation could arise again then,” he said.

The Balmain club had contacted the N.Z.R.L. to clarify the position. One of its grand final players,

Andy Currier, will actually be appearing for Widnes in the challenge match. Currier is an Englishman who spent most of the Australian season with Balmain.

“We quoted the international board’s ruling to Balmain,” said Mr Knowles. “Brent will have his departure date and time on his air ticket. We have a very clear understanding that he leaves the country (Australia) tomorrow,” he said yesterday.

Todd on Sunday became only the second New Zealander, after Darrell Williams, to gain a New South Wales premiership winner’s medal. Ironically, he also appeared for Canberra when Williams helped Manly-Warringah win the 1987 grand final, the last held at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Only Todd and Freeman, of all New Zealanders to play in Sydney, can count two grand finals. Freeman has the dubious distinction of having been in the losing team in both showdowns at the new Sydney Football Stadium.

The victorious Canberra players were yesterday feted with a motorcade from Queanbeyan to Canberra, a lavish reception in the capital and several public appearances.