Queensland coach Mal Meninga says the Four Nations should have been axed for 2014 OCTOBER 24, 2014 Todd Balym The Courier-Mail QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga believes mass player withdrawals from the Four Nations tournament is proof the event should have been scrapped for 2014 and instead played next season to give the game’s elite stars a deserved break. While Meninga was excited to see the new batch of Kangaroos come through the system and represent Australia at this tournament, he was disappointed so many superstar players were forced out of the event due to injury. Coming off the back of last year’s World Cup Meninga believed rugby league officials should have rescheduled this year’s tournament to 2015, a year when Australia’s players are set to receive a break from post-season Test tours. “Maybe (the year off) should’ve been this year, especially after such a long campaign,” Meninga told The Courier Mail. “It’s a shame that all our better players and great players are not playing. I think we will get through it okay. “That campaign last year was enormous, for everybody really, not only Australia but all the rugby league-playing nations, certainly New Zealand and England as well. “It would be good to have them playing all together at full strength so we can get an idea of where everybody stands. “They should’ve been rested this year. Then again it gives younger players, fringe players, an opportunity to put on the green and gold and let’s hope they do it proudly. “It’s on and you know I’m pretty sure anyone who puts a green and gold jersey on will do their best to live up to those reputations and expectations.” Sheens names young Kangaroos squad This year’s tournament has been savaged by the mass withdrawals, Australia are without 21 from their train-on squad including 12 from last year’s World Cup squad and 10 Test incumbents from their win over New Zealand in May. Meninga said it was a clear message from the players that they were too battered and exhausted to play a Test match tournament until the end of November and was proof the game’s powerbrokers need to address the increasingly crowded schedule. “It has to be, not eventually but now the health and wellbeing of the players has got to be foremost,” he said. “The scheduling is a bit tough for them, it’s such a tough year. If you get through the domestic season plus Origin and Test match and then expect them to play Four Nations I think it’s a bit over the top, that’s my personal opinion.” Kangaroo tourists in addressing this year’s team at a dinner and said he expects the rookies to stand up on the big stage on Saturday to deliver a performance worthy of the jersey. “Making your debut at Test level certainly against the Kiwis is going to be a torrid affair for them,” he said. “The expectations are high on a player that plays in the green and gold but I’m pretty sure they won’t let us down.”
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:47:27 +0000
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