Fuifui Moimoi might have escaped a biting charge last night but his Parramatta National Rugby League (NRL) club are unlikely to let him loose for a Kiwis debut this month.
Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald told NZPA today the chances of Tongan-born prop Moimoi playing for the Kiwis against Great
Britain on June 28 (NZT) at St Helens were slim.
"We still haven't made a final decision but it's likely he will not be released," Fitzgerald said.
"We're doing it very tough at the moment and we'd like to have all our available players on deck."
Moimoi was cleared of foul play by the NRL judiciary last night after Melbourne Storm forward Brett White alleged Moimoi bit him on the arm during Sunday's match.
The Eels have won just three of their 13 matches this season and slipped behind the New Zealand Warriors to second-last on the NRL points table at the weekend.
Fitzgerald said the team still had a slim chance of making the top-eight playoffs, so didn't want to release a key forward -- despite having the bye the weekend before the test, meaning Moimoi would miss just one NRL match.
Fitzgerald was also irked at the New Zealand Rugby League's (NZRL) approach to the request for Moimoi, naming him in the Kiwis' 22-man squad last week despite not sending a letter to the club.
"I still haven't got anything in writing from the NZRL."
Fitzgerald's comments come a day after Sydney Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said they would block 19-year-old centre Iosia Soliola's release.
Canavan claimed the NZRL had backtracked on a pre-season agreement that they wouldn't select regular NRL first grade players for the one-off test.
But there was some good news for Kiwis coach Brian McClennan today when the Bulldogs confirmed they would release reserve grade halfback Ben Roberts.
Bulldogs spokesman Chris O'Brien said Roberts would go with the club's blessing, provided there were no injuries in the next two weekends and he was required for the first grade side.
"It's a win-win for Ben, he'll play for the Kiwis, or, if not, play first grade," O'Brien said.
The Storm's David Kidwell and the Broncos' Greg Eastwood have been released by their clubs.
- NZPA
