Veteran coach Wayne Bennett has sounded off about players being denied the right to attend the World Cup in England later this year.
Bennett, 71, claimed that the NRL's decision to scupper player's attempts to attend the tournament following the ARLC and NZRL's joint call to opt out earlier this week was riddled with 'double standards'.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, the man who has held coaching posts for several nations across his span in the game explained that he would be happy for any player currently on his roster to attend the event.
โOf course I would. Itโs the playersโ rights, why wouldnโt I support it,โ Bennett said.
โThe NRL and NZ Rugby League have made a decision, thatโs fine. But if a player wants to go and play for Samoa and Tonga I donโt see why he canโt be allowed to play.
โWe have made so many exceptions and exemptions to keep our competition going here.
โIf England and other nations want to keep the World Cup alive, then I donโt think itโs our prerogative to interfere.
โI would not prevent any player Iโm coaching from going. If he wanted to go and it meant that much to him and the competition was on, I donโt feel I have that right personally.โ
Bennett went on to claim that the NRL's view that players within their jurisdiction should remain at clubland instead of representing their country was unjust and riddled with inconsistencies.
โWho is going to deprive them? Itโs not the right of the club,โ he said.
โWe donโt have an option when it comes to playing Origin or for Australia. If we refuse to play for Australia we get stood down. Whatโs going to happen for these players that want to play for their countries?
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โItโs a complete double standard. If a player wants to play and the club says he canโt but if a player doesnโt want to play and the game says youโve got to play. Thereโs got to be a balance there.โ
Although up in arms, the former Kangaroos coach conceded that it was the ARLC and NZRL's right to have arrived at their decision.
โObviously England and other nations feel they committed to the World Cup and Australia and New Zealand feel they canโt make that commitment,โ Bennett continued.
โWell, thatโs their prerogative but itโs also the prerogative of the other nations to continue with the World Cup.
โIf they went of their choice and could take quality players with them it would only enhance their position."
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Despite this, Bennett also believed the showpiece event could continue even if the two international heavyweights had made the decision not to compete.
"Life will go on without Australia and New Zealand, we are just a part of it,โ he claimed.
After English RFL Chairman Simon Jordan labelled his Australian and New Zealand counterparts as "selfish, parochial and cowardly" for refusing their World Cup invitations, Bennett expressed that he understood the Englishman's viewpoint.
โThereโs no doubt thereโd be a lot of hurt,โ he said.
โThereโs no doubt at all. Itโs in their country and theyโve done a lot of work towards it and all the work that has gone into it with government and local councils.
โThey were pretty bullish about what they had done and thought it was a well worth exercise. Theyโd be bitterly disappointed, particularly with Australia not supporting it Iโd say.โ
The incumbent South Sydney head coach also stated that the international representatives currently under his stewardship at Redfern was also upset by the ruling.
