Super Freak
International Captain
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- Jan 25, 2014
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THE Rugby League International Federation has slammed the door on any attempt by England to poach Australian stars headed by Brett and Josh Morris.
A British newspaper report suggested the Morris twins and several other NRL stars were in Wayne Bennett’s sights as the England coach plots the World Cup demise of Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos.
A high-ranking RLIF official told The Courier-Mail last night any moves by Bennett or English officials to poach Australian players would be futile.
An 18-Test campaigner for Australia, Brett Morris has *refused to rule out a defection to play for England at this year’s Four Nations or next year’s World Cup.
The Morris speculation has triggered a flood of interest from NRL stars with English bloodlines. Another Origin star has already privately explored severing his interstate ties to pledge his allegiance to Bennett’s British side.
RLIF development chief Tas Baitieri last night clarified rugby league’s confusing international eligibility rules, insisting the Morris twins cannot play for England any under circumstances.
“Players from tier-one countries cannot move between each other,” Baitieri said from France, where he is *attending an RLIF convention.
“They can only move upwards or downwards (between tier one and tier-two nations).’’
Australia, New Zealand and England are rated tier-one *nations under the RLIF’s rankings system.
Tier-two nations such as Samoa, France, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Fiji and Tonga are allowed to select players who are not chosen by a tier-one country between World Cup cycles.
Bennett refused to publicly comment when contacted last night by The Courier-Mail. He insists he has not spoken to the Morris brothers, although another English official may have approached the duo.
Former Australian fullback Gary Belcher applauded the RLIF’s stance on the Morris poaching speculation.
“It’s not a good look. I know there has been precedents with Tonie Carroll but seeing the Morris boys in England jumpers would be ridiculous,” Belcher said last night.
Former Broncos hitman Carroll played five Tests for New Zealand at the 2000 World Cup before appearing in seven Tests for Australia in 2004-05.
“I’m happy for us to keep supporting emerging nations but we can’t make a mockery of Australia, England and New Zealand and people interchanging between those countries,’’ Belcher said.
“How is that helping the developing nations? I understand why England might want to look at NRL players but surely there are enough decent players in England for Wayne Bennett to get them playing better rather than the Poms trying to poach Aussies under obscure eligibility rules.”
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
A British newspaper report suggested the Morris twins and several other NRL stars were in Wayne Bennett’s sights as the England coach plots the World Cup demise of Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos.
A high-ranking RLIF official told The Courier-Mail last night any moves by Bennett or English officials to poach Australian players would be futile.
An 18-Test campaigner for Australia, Brett Morris has *refused to rule out a defection to play for England at this year’s Four Nations or next year’s World Cup.
The Morris speculation has triggered a flood of interest from NRL stars with English bloodlines. Another Origin star has already privately explored severing his interstate ties to pledge his allegiance to Bennett’s British side.
RLIF development chief Tas Baitieri last night clarified rugby league’s confusing international eligibility rules, insisting the Morris twins cannot play for England any under circumstances.
“Players from tier-one countries cannot move between each other,” Baitieri said from France, where he is *attending an RLIF convention.
“They can only move upwards or downwards (between tier one and tier-two nations).’’
Australia, New Zealand and England are rated tier-one *nations under the RLIF’s rankings system.
Tier-two nations such as Samoa, France, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Fiji and Tonga are allowed to select players who are not chosen by a tier-one country between World Cup cycles.
Bennett refused to publicly comment when contacted last night by The Courier-Mail. He insists he has not spoken to the Morris brothers, although another English official may have approached the duo.
Former Australian fullback Gary Belcher applauded the RLIF’s stance on the Morris poaching speculation.
“It’s not a good look. I know there has been precedents with Tonie Carroll but seeing the Morris boys in England jumpers would be ridiculous,” Belcher said last night.
Former Broncos hitman Carroll played five Tests for New Zealand at the 2000 World Cup before appearing in seven Tests for Australia in 2004-05.
“I’m happy for us to keep supporting emerging nations but we can’t make a mockery of Australia, England and New Zealand and people interchanging between those countries,’’ Belcher said.
“How is that helping the developing nations? I understand why England might want to look at NRL players but surely there are enough decent players in England for Wayne Bennett to get them playing better rather than the Poms trying to poach Aussies under obscure eligibility rules.”
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
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