Rugby League: Sidestep bid for Cayless

By PETER JESSUP

Nathan Cayless may yet captain the Kiwi side against Australia in Wellington next month after the New Zealand Rugby League yesterday said he would be selected for two lead-up games against Tonga, effectively nullifying the suspension he is under.

Cayless' naming in a Maori side and a New Zealand selection, in the knowledge that he could not play, would satisfy the three-game ban he has to serve after being convicted of a careless high tackle. He has already missed Parramatta's playoff game against Brisbane.

Kiwi coach Gary Freeman has named a 26-man squad for the England tour. Yesterday he said he hoped his first-choice captain for tests there would also lead the side against the Kangaroos at the Cake Tin on October 12.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson yesterday sent details of the two international matches to NRL chief executive David Gallop and is hoping for a positive response.

"It's very convenient," Pearson agreed when asked about the timing of Cayless' selection for the two Tonga games. But he denied any subterfuge.

"We're treating this very seriously. Those in the touring party who are not required against Australia will also play Tonga.

"Except that Cayless won't play Tonga. It's unfortunate he'll have to go into the [Australia] test cold."

He was expecting the NRL to look at this favourably, and hoped for an urgent reply.

There are seven new caps in Freeman's team. The big bolter is prop/second-rower Michael Smith, 26, from the Castleford club, one of four England-based players who will join the tourists after they arrive in the Northern Hemisphere.

Freeman said he didn't want to call players back from Super League clubs vying for their grand final.

"I don't want to interfere with that chance. They'd be off the plane, three days to focus, then back to England tired."

He was happy those who made it - and that's likely to be that Robbie Paul and Tevita Vaikona with the Bradford Bulls and Craig Smith at Wigan - were playing at top level.

There are 11 Warriors in the squad and most look set to face the Kangaroos. The question marks are over Monty Betham, given his lack of match play after returning from a knee injury, and with Henry Faafili, due to the depth in three-quarters, despite the late withdrawal of Willie Talau, who needs shoulder surgery.

Freeman said he had kept tabs on the English game via regular contact with his Kiwi players and with former team-mates such as Gary Mercer, who was one fan of Michael Smith.

"I've got no worries about him," Freeman said of the 105kg, 1.9m former North Harbour union No 8 who went to Castleford via the Canterbury Bulldogs.

"He knows the style over there and will help us adapt to the mix. Craig Smith has his heart set on further test jerseys and so does Robbie [Paul]. I expect leadership from those guys, their desire to play for New Zealand is very high."

Warriors coach Daniel Anderson had assured him that Betham had driven himself this year with the aim of making the tour.

Consistently good form had been the decider in selection. He did not think there were too many Warriors.

"That's reward for their good season and I'm hoping they'll take that form and the combinations that work for them into the tests."

New boys are Bulldogs bench prop Paul Rauhihi, 29; centre Vaikona, 28; Michael Smith and Warrior Awen Guttenbeil, 26; Nathan's 22-year-old brother, Jason, who will be pleased he left Parramatta for the Roosters; Bulldogs' form wing Matt Utai, 21; and Warriors 2002 rookie Lance Hohaia, 19, who steps up from the Junior Kiwis.