An ill-timed and unnecessary article on Caylo

[Gronk]

Steve Deane: Cayless an Aussie, not a great Kiwi



By Steve Deane 5:30 AM Saturday Sep 4, 2010

He's an Aussie. That's the elephant in the room when it comes to Nathan Cayless.
At least it is with me, when it comes to assessing whether the retiring Kiwis World Cup-winning skipper qualifies for New Zealand league greatness. League might not have a residency rule when it comes to international eligibility - but my heart does.
Cayless was a marvellous performer in 38 tests for the Kiwis but he is a born and bred Aussie. He's never lived in this country, hardly played here and, when he retires, will become a real estate agent in Parramatta. While he will always have a special place in New Zealand league history as the man who hoisted the World Cup aloft in 2008, what he is most admired for and will be best remembered for in Australia is setting a record for most games as the captain of an NRL club.
Several stories this week rated his 220 games in charge of the Eels as his greatest achievement. Well, they would. The question is - does he? Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ask him that this week. Requests for an interview with Cayless were ignored by the Eels, presumably on the grounds that he is too busy fulfilling the numerous obligations surrounding his retirement in Australia.


Fair enough, but it kind of underscores the point really.
Cayless was a good player, but probably not good enough to ever represent the country of his birth. He was a great leader and is clearly a fine human being. But was he a great Kiwi?
The answer to that is a matter of personal opinion. To those who judge only his achievements with a black jersey on his back, the answer will be yes. Good on them. But for me the answer is no. Ruben Wiki was a great Kiwi. Maybe even the greatest. Wiki may have played most of his career offshore but he grew up here. He returned here and is a powerful force for good in his community.
Cayless will doubtless use his profile in the same positive manner that Wiki has. In Parramatta. Which is why the answer is no. Good player, World Cup hero, Eels legend - but not a great Kiwi.
By Steve Deane | Email Steve

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10671024

 

[KaboobieGarfunkelShazam]

To be honest, I think it makes a fair point.

But then again, I am not a fan of the way the representative system in Rugby League works when it comes to eligibility for a Country (Nathan Fien's great grandmother scandal was a joke) nor State (Inglis playing for QLD is farcical).

 

[Gronk]

Look this pelican can what he likes, but on the day that Caylo plays his last game ? What did Caylo do to deserve such negativity on such an important day to him and his family based here and in NZ ? Poor form IMO.

 

[True EEL]

this author - whoever he is - should be castrated so there wont be anymore like him......even in NZ

 

[fish eel]

I dont see the big deal about this.

 

[Twizzle]

slow news day

 

[fanaticeel]

What a bitter man the journalist is... :roll:

 

[ozbash]

He is sucking up big time to Warriors fans.

e-mail the useless prick and let him know he is a useless prick.

Good luck tonight Eels, hope Cayless has a great game, win or lose.

 

[fanaticeel]

He is sucking up big time to Warriors fans.

e-mail the useless prick and let him know he is a useless prick.

Good luck tonight Eels, hope Cayless has a great game, win or lose.

Email Steve

 

[HIghlands Fling]

I emailed Steve:
Steve, your country hasn't won a whole lot of World Cup trophies and Cayless is the man who led your team to one. For you to tip crap on him is uncalled for. Your country was happy to take him into their team, he didn't ask. He wasn't good enough to play for the Aussies, yet he was good enough to not only play for, but lead the Kiwis, sad comment on the quality of NZ league players! Ruben is a great Kiwi, however he didn't get to raise the trophy, Cayless did. You should stand behind your players! As for him wanting to stay near Parramatta, that doesn't say a lot for NZ. Parra is a hole of a place but obviously it is a better place then downtown Wellington.

 

[eels_fan]

i just emailed him too

what a moron. Surely he could have waited a day or two to print this negative crap

 

[Bigfella]

Now we are telling journalists what they have to think and write?

Yawn. Wasn't even close to as harsh an analysis as it could have been.

 

[HIghlands Fling]

Now we are telling journalists what they have to think and write?

Yawn. Wasn't even close to as harsh an analysis as it could have been.

Not telling them what to say or write, they are entitled to an opinion as I am as well. I also have the right to tell Steve he is a gibberer!

 

[gunnamatta bay]

He is sucking up big time to Warriors fans.

e-mail the useless prick and let him know he is a useless prick.

Good luck tonight Eels, hope Cayless has a great game, win or lose.

you can also make comments at the bottom of the article which I just did. What a f**khead.

 

[Gronk]

Now we are telling journalists what they have to think and write?

Yawn. Wasn't even close to as harsh an analysis as it could have been.

My beef is the poor timing Bigfella. He wrote it for no other reason than to get a rise and to create controversy. Cheap shot IMO.

 

[sarahk]

I emailed Steve:
Steve, your country hasn't won a whole lot of World Cup trophies and Cayless is the man who led your team to one. For you to tip crap on him is uncalled for. Your country was happy to take him into their team, he didn't ask. He wasn't good enough to play for the Aussies, yet he was good enough to not only play for, but lead the Kiwis, sad comment on the quality of NZ league players! Ruben is a great Kiwi, however he didn't get to raise the trophy, Cayless did. You should stand behind your players! As for him wanting to stay near Parramatta, that doesn't say a lot for NZ. Parra is a hole of a place but obviously it is a better place then downtown Wellington.

LOL very nice!

I just hate it when reporters do this. Its Nathans biggest day and he writes an article like that. Seriously reporters have lost so much credibility and then they wonder why no one takes anything they say seriously.

 

[The EELiminator]

funny i dont remember him complaining when caylo won the world cup for them

 

[fish eel]

My beef is the poor timing Bigfella. He wrote it for no other reason than to get a rise and to create controversy. Cheap shot IMO.

so it appears then he got his desired reaction from you ;-)

 

[Tyler Durden]

not too worried about the article.
in a couple of days, it will be wrapping up fush en chups.

 

[oldmancraigy]

The logic of the article suggests that Benji Marshall should never be considered a great Kiwi either then?

I'll bet the author would deny that though?