By STEVE MASCORD
WHEN does a positive for international rugby league become a negative? When Australia and England start talking about fielding B teams.
Last Saturday after the World Cup final, it was heartening to hear Mal Meninga speak about playing more internationals. “It doesn’t have to be a full Kangaroos side,” he reasoned. “We already have a Prime Minister’s XIII”.
Meanwhile, England are to take part in a Six Nations next northern Autumn – great news. But England are also going to be taking part in a Test series against New Zealand at the same time, which means England Knights will have to replace them in the Six Nations.
Rugby League Ireland’s Richard Egan has made it clear that’s just not acceptable to the Wolfhounds. Unless they are playing a full England side, he expects Super League clubs to baulk at releasing players.
Just when we get to the point where two or three tier two nations seem capable of beating sides in the big three, what do we do?
We allow the big three to strengthen their stocks by adding B teams! Will we have fully funded Samoa B or Scotland B any time soon? Of course not!
England Knights and an expansion of the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII simply allows the best resourced countries to flaunt their financial might and – even if not binding – warehouse players who might otherwise be tempted to represent emerging nations.
If the PM’s XIII is playing at the same time as Samoa and Joey Leilua choses the PM’s side, the game is damaged. It’s absolute madness.
It’s the same principle as Australia and England using the residency rule to pick foreigners. They don’t need it! They have to learn to control their ambitions for the good of the sport.
On top of that, the Australian PM’s XIII is not a draw anywhere but Papua New Guinea and England Knights are not a draw anywhere! They serve no purpose but to prop up the two nations who least need propping up.
I’d rather see an Affiliated States side including NRL players from WA, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria assembled with good money from League Central.
Perhaps, to make them stronger, thrown in the ACT. At least they would represent something you can see on a map.
Likewise, England Knights just take players off Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They do far more harm than good.
How do we award Test caps during this Six Nations? If you play against anyone but the Knights, it’s a cap but if it’s England Knights you don’t get capped?
So the status of matches in the same competition varies? Please. Either put England in camp for a couple of months and alternate between the two competitions – perhaps with a player rotation policy – or don’t have the Six Nations until we can do it properly.
B teams from the big three just hurt the game.
