Bulldogs coach Des Hasler can’t be allowed to dictate to NRL, says Matt Johns

MATT Johns has called on the NRL to step in and block Canterbury’s request for their players not to be selected in the final City versus Country clash.

Des Hasler does not want his players selected for City Country. Picture: Gregg Porteous

MATT Johns has called on NRL CEO Todd Greenberg to step in and block Canterbury’s formal request for their players not to be selected in the final City versus Country clash in Mudgee on May 7.

The Bulldogs want their players to be ineligible for the traditional representative match, as they face North Queensland just four days later.

Furious Country Rugby League officials have labelled Canterbury’s stance a “slap in the face” for bush footy fans.

Country officials were particularly keen to select Bulldogs back-rower Josh Jackson, a Mudgee junior raised in nearby Gulgong.

Speaking on the Triple M Grill Team, Johns said he would like to see Greenberg take a firm stance by denying Canterbury’s request and standing them down from their NRL fixture.

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Des Hasler does not want his players selected for City Country. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The ex-Knight and Shark believes the NRL should follow in the footsteps of former ARL boss John Quayle and set a firm precedent on players stepping down from representative fixtures.

“This is a real test of Todd and the NRL,” Johns said.

“Des is pulling them (the NRL) on by saying, ‘my players are not playing and I don’t know what they are going to do.

“The ball is in Todd Greenberg’s court and what makes it even more awkward for Todd is that he was once the boss of the Bulldogs.

“It’s unprecedented that we now have a situation where clubs and a coach in Des is dictating to the NRL.

“Now what used to happen years ago was that if a player was chosen to play for City or Country or New Zealand, they would pull out of the game.

“But if you pulled out of the game, you would automatically be stood down from that week’s NRL fixture.

“But the league has had this coming, because there has been dwindling interest from their end in this fixture.”

It comes as Jackson admits he is disappointed the Bulldogs won’t allow him to represent Country in this year’s clash with City Origin.

Jackson played his first representative game for Country in 2013 but he will be missing from next month’s Mudgee fixture, played just four days before Canterbury’s NRL away clash with North Queensland.

Josh Jackson is disappointed with Hasler’s decision. Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

“I really wanted to be a part of the game so it’s definitely disappointing, but I’ve just got to respect the club and the fact it will be a four-day turnaround,” Jackson said.

Mark Geyer admits the City versus Country fixture has been suffering a slow death for some time due to a lack of interest.

It’s why he can’t blame Bulldogs coach Des Hasler for requesting his players sit out the representative match.

“I think what Des has done is what every other coach in the land is thinking of doing and he said it out loud,” Geyer said.

“Most times you see this fixture becoming a bit of a mockery when players pull out.

“Last year young (Ryan) Matterson made the (City) starting team with one first grade game to his name.

“To me, that’s when you are taking the piss.

“I really feel for country supporters.

“They are the backbone of the game, they really are.

“The amount of players they’ve supplied to the NRL is unbelievable.

“I think the NRL should say something to him (Des), but he has only had the balls to say what every other coach is thinking.”

Despite Johns’ calls, the NRL won’t get involved in any decision to block Canterbury’s request as the City versus Country match is under the jurisdiction of the NSWRL.