Tri-Nations Match 4
Australian Kangaroos 12 l. Great Britain Lions 23

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: Tri-Nations Test Series

Enforcer Mason is a Joke - McDermott
Wed November 8, 2006
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Former Great Britain international Barrie McDermott has branded Australian Willie Mason's claims that he is "an enforcer" as a joke and says that Stuart Fielden should get his retaliation in first if the two sides meet again in the Gillette Tri Nations Final.

Mason yesterday received a one game ban for his punch on Wigan's Stuart Fielden in Saturday Sydney Test match but the Kangaroo forward tried to claim that it was in self defence and that it was part of his role as an enforcer.

However, McDermott, who today announced his retirement from professional rugby after a 16 year career, has hit back claiming that Mason is far from an enforcer and merely caught Fielden with one lucky punch.

"When people talk about enforcers you think of great players like Kevin Tamati, Mal Reilly, Paul Harrogan, Les Boyd, Vince Karalius, Kurt Sorenson, Gordon Tallis and current players like Adrian Morley and Ruben Wiki. Willie Mason might like to think he is in that company but he's miles off it.

"Stuart Fielden has consistently been one of the best front rowers over the last five years for club and country. Mason caught him with a lucky punch on Saturday and I would suggest that next time Stuart doesn't give him the opportunity.

"Violence isn't something you want to see too much of in the game but Rugby League is a tough sport and in the heat of a Test match tempers are bound to boil over and Stuart has to fight fire with fire. One of the most important parts of our game is the respect that both sets of players show for each other but Willie Mason has shown a total lack of respect for everyone throughout this tournament.

"I was fortunate throughout my career to come up against some of the hardest players the game has produced from Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Whilst it was always tough out on the pitch afterwards you enjoyed a beer with them and had an admiration for each others abilities, unfortunately some people who should know better Down Under have forgotten that," added McDermott.

McDermott, who played at Oldham and Wigan, spent ten years at Leeds before moving to Widnes last year for his final season but has decided to go into permanent retirement now. He gained 15 caps for Great Britain between 1994 and 2003 and also appeared for Ireland in the 2000 World Cup. He commented, "I decided to go to Widnes last year to play one more season with my shadow Terry O'Connor and to try and help the Vikings get back into Super League, which I thoroughly enjoyed and was grateful for.

"Unfortunately, we fell at the final hurdle and I've now decided that it is time to hang up the boots to concentrate on my role at Headingley Carnegie. I have had a great career and feel very privileged to have been a professional Rugby League player and hopefully over the coming years I can put something back into the game that has given me so much."

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

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Website Comment: Does anyone remember the 1994 Kangaroo Tour and the Australia v Wigan match?


Stuart's Ridiculous Rotations
Tue November 7, 2006
Source: www.chriswalkersport.blogspot.com

In the aftermath of Saturday night's shock loss to Great Britain much has been said about Australia's controversial rotation policy. Australian coach Ricky Stuart compared the resting of some players to give other squad members some game time to taking out insurance. His theory is that if one of the Australian players is injured he will have match-ready replacements to step in and fill the void. Stuart has been adamant from the start of the Tri-Nations tournament that he will not cheapen the Australian jersey. However, by essentially choosing substitute players in positions where the best players have been rested, Stuart has indeed cheapened the jersey.

The argument can be examined from both sides of the coin. Stuart could be commended for looking ahead, planning for possible injury problems and ensuring Australia are ready for the final. Realistically though, Stuart simply cannot be commended for resting fit and ready Australian players from pulling on the Australian jersey. Captain Darren Lockyer has played over 30 rugby league matches this season. Hypothetically, were he asked to be rested he would no doubt be justifiably angry. As the key player in the Australian team, he was never going to be rested or rotated. Looking at his halves partner in Australia's first and second game, Jonathon Thurston, he has grounds to be understandably annoyed.

If anyone was to be rested surely it shouldn't have been the halfback. This year Thurston combined with Lockyer to bring home the Origin shield and his form in 2006 should have ensured him the place as Australia's halfback, barring only a notable form slump. Following his late-season knee injury Thurston had spent weeks out of the game without match-play. Common sense suggests he should be getting as many matches before the Tri-Nations final as possible. More matches would allow him to form a better combination with the team and fully regain his match-fitness. In spite of that Stuart gave Ben Hornby a start at halfback. Perhaps if it was Cooper Cronk, who mounted a solid challenge to Thurston as a regular NRL halfback, that was given a start then it could be justified. Instead Hornby, a great utility player but not a regular halfback was selected.

Looking at another of Australia's selection rotations it gets harder to support Stuart. Justin Hodges, arguably the NRL's most in-form player was rested for Jamie Lyon. Lyon, hasn't played in the NRL for years and although he played in England, their club standard can hardly be compared to the NRL. Matt King and Andrew Ryan were two other Australian players that can feel hard done by, surrendering their spot for the Great Britain match.

Looking at the rotation argument after the Great Britain win, it is even harder to justify Stuart's stance. The rotations served to further undermine Australia's cohesion in both attack and defence. There were numerous times when the Australian defensive line didn't operate as one. At one stage Lyon came up in defence leaving a yawning gap which Great Britain exploited with a try. It was only Great Britain's inability to finish and their lack of vision that ensured they didn't rack up a sizeable score. The Australian attack was disjointed to say the least and frequent errors cost them any chance of mounting sustained pressure. The poor form of Australia can't be solely contributed to the positional changes, but changing a winning team certainly didn't help.

Now Great Britain will be full of confidence, Australia have to go back to the drawing board and have done far more harm to their Tri-Nations chances then good by resting or rotating their players. Stuart has also been lambasted for his amazing decision to re-arrange half the Australian team following the injury to centre Mark Gasnier. Stuart could have simply shifted Shaun Berrigan from hooker to centre and Cameron Smith from the bench to hooker. Instead he changed his halfback, five-eighth, fullback, wing and centre. Surely his contingency plan for an injured player couldn't have been to rotate half the team. It seems rotation is a word Stuart will want to erase from his memory.

Chris Walker also has his own Sports blogspot, found at: www.chriswalkersport.blogspot.com

Mon November 6, 2006
• Mason suspended for one Test and fined $5,000 (Includes Image)
  
Sat November 4, 2006
• Great Britain's massive upset victory
  
Fri November 3, 2006
• McGuire out, Pryce stand-off, Raynor wing
  
Wed November 1, 2006
• Morley relegated to bench, Gleeson and Carvell dropped
  
Wed November 1, 2006
• Gillette Tri Nations - Australia v Great Britain
  
Tue October 31, 2006
• Ryan to launch White Ribbon Day
  
Tue October 31, 2006
• Thaiday earns recall, Kaufusi's debut on hold, Lions not yet named
  
Tue October 31, 2006
• Stuart makes five changes to Australian side
  
Mon October 30, 2006
• Halfback lacking in depth
  

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