By STEVE MASCORD
FORMER All Black rugby union centre John Schuster has warned he will take “other measures” if Newcastle refuse to release him today for international rugby league duty.
Knights chief executive Mike Armstrong has not signed a release for Schuster to join Kiwi squad for next month’s Test series against Australia.
The classy three-quarter, on the verge of dual international status, said the Knights had promised to let him join the New Zealand squad after the Knights’ 28-16 loss to Canberra at the weekend.
“They told me if we lost they would release me and I’m very disappointed at this development,” Schuster said.
“They’re going to discuss it at a board meeting and if they don’t release me this time I’m going to have to look at other measures.”
Schuster, not bound by standard Test selection rules because he did not play league in New Zealand, was yesterday omitted from the Kiwi side for the first Test in Melbourne on July 3.
Schuster said it was too early to comment on whether legal action was among “other measures” being considered.
“It’s doubly disappointing because I’ve taken the club’s line on this until now and acted in good faith,” he said.
“But if the Kiwis go well in the first Test, I’m stuffed for the rest of the series.”
Schuster said he wanted to be cleared immediately so he could be considered as a shadow player for the Melbourne Test.
Kiwi Test skipper Gary Freeman is under “extreme pressure” to perform in the first Test to hold his position in the side, according to New Zealand coach Bob Bailey.
Freeman has already been dropped from first grade at Balmain this year and specialist halfback Clayton Friend is on the Kiwi bench.
“I think Clayton is a better player now that he was starring for North Sydney in the eighties,” Bailey said from Christchurch.
From the BRISBANE SUN, June 25 1991
