KEY POINTS:
Selwyn Bennett managed to showcase the New Zealand Rugby League's (NZRL) reputation for fumbling the ball even when delivering his farewell speech.
Bennett resigned as NZRL chairman on Friday over his role in the Nathan Fien selection saga which plunged the sport into mini-chaos this week.
That came
a day after the Kiwis were stripped of two points for fielding the ineligible Fien in the 18-14 Tri-Nations victory over Great Britain in Christchurch a week ago.
Bennett pre-empted the NZRL's announcement of his resignation by confirming to NZPA his decision to step aside after five years on the board, including the last seven months as chairman.
The NZRL was caught unawares and did not officially declare his exit for another three hours.
The NZRL will hope his departure from office will spell the end of a controversy which erupted when it emerged Australian-born Fien contravened the competition's eligibility rules.
The Kiwis originally claimed Fien's grandmother was born in New Zealand but it was later revealed the birth certificate he provided belonged to his great-grandmother.
A Rugby League International Federation panel ruled the NZRL was aware the certificate belonged to Fien's great-grandmother but did not disclose the fact.
The Kiwis were deducted two competition points for beating Great Britain and Fien was removed from the squad.
Bennett, 66, knocked on again when saying that board deputy chairman Peter Douglas would assume the chairmanship. The NZRL partially righted the wrong later by naming Andrew Chalmers as acting chairman until elections are held at the next NZRL annual general meeting in "March, 2005".
Chalmers said Bennett had acknowledged "he was solely responsible for the decision to rule Nathan Fien eligible to play for the Kiwis and now accepts that his honest mistake about interpretation and administrative procedures led to this outcome".
He said Bennett made his decision to resign in the "best interest of the game going forward".
"This outcome is regrettable, given the extremely hard work Mr Bennett has performed for New Zealand Rugby League over many years."
Chalmers said the NZRL would review all its processes, including selection eligibility, following this week's events.
"I acknowledge that the NZRL's immediate priority will be to regain the confidence and trust of our stakeholders, the public and the fans.
"Our members, partners and the New Zealand public need to know we are taking responsibility for this issue and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again."
Bennett said he was saddened to see the "hysteria" the issue had provoked.
"The game was coming under pressure, the rest of the New Zealand Rugby League was being called into question. One commentator described the staff as incompetent," he said.
"When they start on innocent people like that ... there has to be a scapegoat somewhere and I've put my hand up.
"These people have a job to do and they have to get on with it. We've had our board members described as plonkers on radio by a commentator. He really needs to go and look in the mirror to know what a real plonker is.
"I don't think the staff deserve that and neither do the board, they are very competent."
Bennett accepted full responsibility for the affair.
"I was the one who ordered the birth certificate to be sent to the Australians, I was the one who verified it," he said.
"They have got their scalp, now leave the league alone."
New Zealand can still qualify for the Tri-Nations final if they beat Great Britain in Wellington on November 11, providing Australia win both games against Great Britain.
- NZPA
