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| League: Primed Puletua gets club backing 25.09.05 By Michael Brown It seems somewhat ironic that Tony Puletua will play in this year's Tri-Nations almost at the insistence of the Panthers. The 26-year-old second-rower was at the centre of a club vs country row last season that saw the club pull rank and demand Puletua withdraw from the Tri-Nations to have surgery on an injured ankle. Fast forward 12 months, and the veteran of 13 tests for the Kiwis has been given the blessing to play in the end-of-season tournament, despite the fact he's been missing from the Panthers since tearing a pectoral muscle in mid-April. "It was a massive turnaround when they said I could go on the Tri-Nations,"Puletua said. "I was just trying to get back for the last few games of the season but, unfortunately, the club had other ideas. They didn't want me to come back, which was pretty disappointing, but they said that I could tour with the Kiwis if I get picked." Considering the wealth of talent in the second row, there is no guarantee Puletua will be picked and the selectors have indicated they might opt to give him a run with the NZ A-side to play the Junior Roos on October 15 to get him in shape for the rest of the Tri Nations. "Physically, I feel a bit rusty but mentally I'm jumping out of my skin," Puletua explained. "I'm dying to play." Much to the disappointment of Kiwis coach Brian McClennan, not every Kiwi hopeful is as lucky as Puletua, with more than a handful of players doubtful because their clubs want them to undergo surgery or rehabilitation at the same time as the Tri-Nations. McClennan confirmed Jerome Ropati is out with a cracked pelvic bone, while Benji Marshall, Roy Asotasi, Jamaal Lolesi and Dene Halatau are all doubtful starters - and in most cases the club normally wins. "I just wish the countries had more say," Puletua said. "I wish it was like soccer and, if the country wants you to play, you have to play. What more can you ask for as a player than to play for your country? When it's taken away from you from club level it's really disappointing." A 40-man squad will be named on October 3 before both the Kiwis and A-sides are announced a week later. - HERALD ON SUNDAY |