Stacey Jones leaves door open for future

Stacey Jones. Dean Treml / Getty Images

Stacey Jones might be missing from the second half of the Tri-Nations rugby league tournament, but the champion halfback has kept the door open on his international career.

Jones said today it was a case of wait and see, but wearing the Kiwis jersey had rejuvenated his desire to play for New Zealand and he didn't rule out answering another distress call in the future.

"I haven't closed the door," he said.

"I came out of retirement to help the team out with injuries and what have you.

"There are a lot of young guys coming through and it's probably time for them. But if the injuries are there, then I'll do it again."

Jones, 29, played his first test in more than two years on Saturday night, helping the Kiwis to a shock 38-28 defeat of the Kangaroos.

He had come out of international retirement for his 35th cap after a plea from new coach Brian McClennan to help out the injury-hit Kiwis.

Jones will back up in the return match with Australia in Auckland on Friday night.

But his move to French club Les Catalans in the English Super League and the birth of his third child in November means he is unlikely to feature in the English leg of the Tri-Nations.

Jones said McClennan hadn't spoken to him about the two tests against Great Britain over the coming month.

"He knows the position I was in before the series started and he's been really good, because he's left it open to me," he said.

"But I've got a lot of commitments in France and here at home as well. As much as I would like to be a part of it, it's unlikely I'll be able to take any part in the rest of the series."

Before the weekend, Jones' last test appearance was in the 6-48 defeat by Australia in Sydney in July 2003, in what was previous coach Daniel Anderson's first match at the helm.

Injury meant he missed the second trans-Tasman clash that year, when the Kiwis turned the tables with an emotional 30-16 victory over the Kangaroos in Auckland in October.

"It's always sweet when you get a win again them," he said.

"I remember watching the game the last time we beat them, at North Harbour. You wish you were there, but you're not, so it was pretty good on Saturday night."

Jones added that the Kiwis had their feet back on the ground again, after savouring the result at Telstra Stadium.

They were also braced for a backlash from the Kangaroos, who would be keen not to give the New Zealanders the rare satisfaction of winning consecutive tests.

"But we're here at home and hopefully we can get a lot of support that can lift us," he said.

The match will be at Ericsson Stadium, headquarters of the New Zealand Warriors, for whom Jones has just completed 11 first-grade seasons.

Having been farewelled by the local fans at the Warriors' last home game of the year against Newcastle in August, Jones was happy to be one of the boys this week.

"I'm just here to help out the Kiwi jersey.

"It's all about the 17 blokes on the field and the coaching staff -- the whole team, the New Zealand jersey."

Coach Brian McClennan said Jones would be warmly welcomed if he wanted to go on tour with the Kiwis in England, but the decision was the player's to make.

"Stacey is playing on Friday night and then he has commitments in France," he said.

"He needs to go and do those commitments. If he wants to hook up with us in England, there's a spot for him, but it's his call."

- NZPA