Rugby's watchdog finally shows its teeth

SO RUGBY LEAGUE'S international watchdog does have a few teeth after all.

The decision by the Rugby League International Federation to force Leeds and Wigan to release players to New Zealand for tomorrow's centenary Test in Sydney was as welcome as it was surprising.

For too long, the international game has played second fiddle to the clubs, who wield an inordinate amount of power, but the federation finally came good and it made a decision for the general wellbeing of the game.

If Super League clubs wish to sign international overseas players, they must be prepared to release them for international matches, regardless of the consequences domestically.

The timing of the mid-season Test, which was sandwiched between the Millennium Magic weekend and the fifth round of the Challenge Cup, was unfortunate, but that was no fault of the Kiwis, who had every right to select their best team.

In the event, both Leeds full-back Brent Webb and Wigan scrum half Thomas Leuluai hardly covered themselves in glory against Australia and that may have a bearing on the selectors' decisions next year.

It was, of course, totally unreasonable to expect Leuluai to perform at his best after a gruelling 24-hour flight, arriving in camp just two days before the Test and having played for his club three days before that.

The International Federation brushed aside objections from the Rugby Football League, but they should really have taken an even stronger line and insisted that the players be stood down by their clubs a week before the Test to enable them to prepare properly.

The acid test will come next year when Leeds second rower Gareth Ellis is plying his trade with Wests Tigers in Australia's National Rugby League.

It is to be hoped that the federation will not change their policy if and when England request the services of Ellis for their mid-season international against France.

Earlier this week, St Helens caused a few raised eyebrows with their decision to scrap Knowsley Road and rename their famous old ground The GPW Recruitment Stadium.

The traditionalists would no doubt accuse Saints of selling their soul, but it is a sad fact of commercial life these days that clubs have every right to maximise their earning potential.

However, how many Saints fans said that they were going to the GPW Recruitment Stadium to watch the Challenge Cup tie with Warrington last Saturday? It will, of course, remain Knowsley Road until the day the bulldozers move in.

Whatever name St Helens give to their new stadium, which they hope to move into during the 2011 season, will have more chance of sticking because there will be no real alternative.

Hull fans go to the KC Stadium because the Boulevard is no more and, although Huddersfield fans still chant "Fartown," they call their home ground the Galpharm Stadium.

Even Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium has become part of the rugby league language despite it being a mouthful and fans may even become accustomed eventually to adding the Carnegie to Headingley and the Grattan Stadium to Odsal.

The jury is still out on the Chris Moyles Stadium, however, and if Batley ever change Mount Pleasant to the Crunchy Nut Cornflakes Arena, it will be time to organise a revolt.

Thrum Hall, Watersheddings and Crown Flatt may be no more, but Cougar Park will always be Lawkholme Lane and please don't tell me Featherstone no longer play at Post Office Road.

James Buchanan is away.