Webb and Leuluai free to play

Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai are free to play for the Kiwis in the Centenary Test against Australia.

Despite heavy opposition from their respective Super League clubs the Rugby League International Federation has decided the Kiwis pair should be made available to play.

In a statement released today the executive of the RLIF supported the rights of the New Zealand Rugby League in selecting Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai from the Super League Competition to play in next Friday's Centenary Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

A telephone hook-up between RLIF Chairman, Mr Colin Love AM, RFL Chairman, Mr Richard Lewis, and RLIF secretary Mr David Gallop examined an application from the two clubs concerned that they should not release their players.

The RLIF Executive determined that there were not sufficient grounds to vary RLIF Rule 4.1 which states:

"Except as otherwise determined by the Board in respect of a particular match ... a player who has been selected to play a Senior International match approved as such by the Board for a country for which he is eligible :-

a) must be made available by his club for all such matches for which he is selected and for training sessions where possible..."

Should the players not arrive in Australia for next Friday's Centenary Test they would be ineligible to play in the corresponding round of Super League matches.