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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25428388-5016545,00.html
Craig Bellamy sees red at bush insult
By Josh Massoud | May 05, 2009 12:00am
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Fuming ... NSW State of Origin coach Craig Bellamy. Photograph: Gregg Porteous / The Daily Telegraph
CRAIG Bellamy has slammed the scheduling of Friday night's City-Country clash, with the NSW coach forced to join drinkers at a local Melbourne pub to watch the crucial Origin selection trial.
The traditional fixture carries extraordinary ramifications for the most open NSW selection race in recent memory, but Bellamy last night claimed it had been reduced to "second-class citizen" status in favour of the Australia-New Zealand Test.
With Channel 9 screening the trans-Tasman match live, viewers will have to wait until 9.30pm to see NSW's fleet of hopefuls do battle in Orange for a coveted sky-blue jersey.
But the scheduling clash is more damning for Bellamy, who will be on club duty with the Storm in Melbourne where the game is not being shown until 2am on Saturday.
"I would like to go in person, because I'm a big believer of the City-Country and grew up not far from where the game is being played," said Bellamy, who hails from Portland - about 80km east of Orange. "I know I'll probably cop a bit of stick, but I can't go because my assistants at the Storm, Steve Kearney (New Zealand) and Michael McGuire (Country), are involved elsewhere this week.
"Seeing we've got a game on Monday night (against the Roosters in Gosford), I've got to stay and prepare the team. It's not ideal to be honest."
Asked where he would watch the match, Bellamy replied: "There's a couple of pubs down here in Melbourne that show the rugby league at the same time as Sydney.
"I'll probably just have to go to one of them and watch it - there's not many other options."
Bellamy was criticised last year for failing to attend the City-Country fixture in Wollongong.
That match, however, had far less impact upon the make-up of the NSW team - which 12 months later has no fewer than 10 jerseys up for grabs.
Given its enormous significance, Bellamy can't understand why ARL officials allowed the game to be shafted into the graveyard slot.
"They are treating the match like a second-class citizen, which in my view is pretty sad," he said.
Craig Bellamy sees red at bush insult
By Josh Massoud | May 05, 2009 12:00am
Have your say!Add your comments or read what others are
CRAIG Bellamy has slammed the scheduling of Friday night's City-Country clash, with the NSW coach forced to join drinkers at a local Melbourne pub to watch the crucial Origin selection trial.
The traditional fixture carries extraordinary ramifications for the most open NSW selection race in recent memory, but Bellamy last night claimed it had been reduced to "second-class citizen" status in favour of the Australia-New Zealand Test.
With Channel 9 screening the trans-Tasman match live, viewers will have to wait until 9.30pm to see NSW's fleet of hopefuls do battle in Orange for a coveted sky-blue jersey.
But the scheduling clash is more damning for Bellamy, who will be on club duty with the Storm in Melbourne where the game is not being shown until 2am on Saturday.
"I would like to go in person, because I'm a big believer of the City-Country and grew up not far from where the game is being played," said Bellamy, who hails from Portland - about 80km east of Orange. "I know I'll probably cop a bit of stick, but I can't go because my assistants at the Storm, Steve Kearney (New Zealand) and Michael McGuire (Country), are involved elsewhere this week.
"Seeing we've got a game on Monday night (against the Roosters in Gosford), I've got to stay and prepare the team. It's not ideal to be honest."
Asked where he would watch the match, Bellamy replied: "There's a couple of pubs down here in Melbourne that show the rugby league at the same time as Sydney.
"I'll probably just have to go to one of them and watch it - there's not many other options."
Bellamy was criticised last year for failing to attend the City-Country fixture in Wollongong.
That match, however, had far less impact upon the make-up of the NSW team - which 12 months later has no fewer than 10 jerseys up for grabs.
Given its enormous significance, Bellamy can't understand why ARL officials allowed the game to be shafted into the graveyard slot.
"They are treating the match like a second-class citizen, which in my view is pretty sad," he said.
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