Doubts over Kiwis’ US test
It’s too early for NRL clubs to make a call on releasing Kiwi players for a mid-season test in Denver but Manly coach Trent Barrett already sounds like a sceptic.
New Zealand Rugby League’s announcement of a mid-season test against England in the United States was barely 24-hours old when Barrett and Warriors chief executive Cameron George raised concerns around player welfare.
The fixture is slated to be an annual event for the next three years and will coincide with game two of State of Origin on a standalone representative weekend.
Manly might be happy to take a home game to Christchurch to grow the game but Barrett is much more cautious about the prospect of Martin Taupau - the most important and powerful cog in the Sea Eagles forward pack - playing the Denver test for the same reason on June 23.
It’s a contradiction of sorts but Barrett’s apprehension is more than understandable.
Potentially he could have Taupau and Lewis Brown in Denver with the Kiwis plus the possibility of having some or all of Jake and Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans, Apisai Koroisau and Dylan Walker involved in State of Origin.
Barrett, who was in Christchurch on Wednesday for a whirlwind reconnaissance and promotional mission ahead of Manly’s round 14 clash with the Warriors at AMI Stadium, said it was too early to discuss the possibility of player availability for the test.
‘‘It’s only really early in the piece but it is a bit of a worry for us. You’re coming into a really important time of the year,’’ Barrett said of the Denver test.
‘‘There’s a lot of things in and around it that we will have to consider.’’
It seems expansion comes much easier when you are closer to home.
Reading between the lines, Barrett is less than excited about Taupau taking the 38-hour return flight from Sydney to Denver to play a test match when the alternative is a week off at a crucial time of the season.
In an ideal world, he would want his enforcer and main source of forward momentum to play in Christchurch, Wollongong, Denver and Penrith all within just 22 days.
Barrett, who looks in good enough condition to still be lacing the boots up, said he is passionate about growing the game internationally but is calling for a sensible approach to protect the players.
‘‘I am a big supporter of International footy but they’ve just come off a World Cup where none of those boys got a pre-season,’’ Barrett said.
‘‘I don’t think Marty Taupau has had a pre-season in five years.’’
Barrett, the Dally M Player of the Year in 2000, said player welfare is an important issue and all options around the Denver test need to be carefully considered.
The travel, altitude and different time zones are more of a concern to Barrett than the risk of injury in the test. Denver is 1609 metres above sea level.
NZRL chairman Reon Edwards is confident the Kiwis will field a strong line up in Denver but that will ultimately depend on clubs releasing players.
As important as growing the game is, Barrett said the product will suffer if too much is asked of the players.
‘‘The game is the one that suffers in the end because your best players aren’t playing or getting injured.’’