Bennett calls out ‘double standards’ as Australia and NZ pull out of World Cup

Wayne Bennett has launched a passionate defence of international rugby league after Australia and New Zealand pulled out of the World Cup.

Bennett coached England for 15 games.

Wayne Bennett has called out “double standards” in a passionate five-minute defence of international rugby league.

It comes after Australia and New Zealand opted to pull out of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup over Covid-19 concerns.

The move was heavily criticised as “selfish, parochial and cowardly” by chairman of England’s Rugby Football League Simon Jordan.

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World Cup organisers will now spend the next three days deciding whether to go ahead with the tournament.

Postponing it until next year is complicated by the fact the Commonwealth Games are taking place in summer while the FIFA World Cup is set to go ahead in November.

Cleary is one NRL coach who is hoping his international stars stay on Aussie shores.

If the World Cup does proceed it then raises the question of whether NRL clubs will allow players eligible for other nations to take part.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, for example, told media on Friday that he does not want his players involved.

Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau (Fiji) would all be available for selection but Cleary said he “wouldn’t be comfortable”.

“I think they will all understand,” Cleary said.

“It is an exciting tournament for all the boys and a lot of the guys were really keen to play for their parent’s heritage. I think it is an awesome thing for rugby league and it is just unfortunate that Covid is messing with something else.

“With the amount of money the UK Government has given to this event it must be extremely difficult but in terms of player welfare and the risks I think the right decision has been made.”

Australia has pulled out. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Michael Maguire, who is also New Zealand coach, said he would not stand in the way of Kiwis with dual eligibility playing but hopes it is postponed so all the best players are available.

Kevin Walters, meanwhile, said it was “probably a smart decision” in the current environment but added he had “no influence” over what players decided to do.

Then there was Bennett, who spent five minutes of his media opportunity on Friday to take questions on the decision and provide his response.

The former England coach said in no uncertain terms that he would be fully supportive of any players who would want to make the trip.

“Of course I would. It’s the players’ rights, why wouldn’t I support it,” Bennett said.

“The NRL and NZ Rugby League have made a decision, that’s fine. But if a player wants to go and play for Samoa and Tonga I don’t see why he can’t be allowed to play.

“We have made so many exceptions and exemptions to keep our competition going here.

Jarome Luai plays for the Samoan national team.

“If England and other nations want to keep the World Cup alive, then I don’t think it’s our prerogative to interfere.

“I would not prevent any player I’m coaching from going. If he wanted to go and it meant that much to him and the competition was on, I don’t feel I have that right personally.”

The Rugby League Players Association claimed players were not properly consulted over the decision on Friday, demanding they be given the chance to represent other countries.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports a recent survey showed 75 per cent of players consulted by Australia’s players union were still happy to travel to England to play in the World Cup.

Bennett went on to call out what he believes is a “double standard” in the league’s attitude towards international football.

“Who is going to deprive them? It’s not the right of the club,” he said.

“We don’t have an option when it comes to playing Origin or for Australia. If we refuse to play for Australia we get stood down. What’s going to happen for these players that want to play for their countries?

Michael Maguire coaches the New Zealand national team as well as the Wests Tigers.

“It’s a complete double standard. If a player wants to play and the club says he can’t but if a player doesn’t want to play and the game says you’ve got to play. There’s got to be a balance there.”

Bennett was not taking aim though at Australia or New Zealand for pulling out but insisted international rugby league does not revolve around those two nations.

“Obviously England and other nations feel they committed to the World Cup and Australia and New Zealand feel they can’t make that commitment,” he said.

“Well, that’s their prerogative but it’s also the prerogative of the other nations to continue with the World Cup.

“If they went of their choice and could take quality players with them it would only enhance their position. Life will go on without Australia and New Zealand, we are just a part of it.”

Australia and New Zealand have both been strongly criticised for opting out of the tournament and Bennett admitted England would be “bitterly disappointed” by it all.

“There’s no doubt there’d be a lot of hurt,” he said.

Wayne Bennett previously coached England. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“There’s no doubt at all. It’s in their country and they’ve done a lot of work towards it and all the work that has gone into it with government and local councils.

“They were pretty bullish about what they had done and thought it was a well worth exercise. They’d be bitterly disappointed, particularly with Australia not supporting it I’d say.”

He even revealed that Rabbitohs forward Tom Burgess had made a personal sacrifice to ensure he was available to represent England.

“They [Souths players] are all disappointed,” he said.

“They were prepared to go. Tom even postponed his marriage to go. They had no qualms. I think he [Burgess] will [go] if it is on.”

Originally published as Bennett calls out ‘double standards’ as Australia and NZ pull out of World Cup