Merritt questions rep snub
By Dean Ritchie
May 01, 2007
SOUTH Sydney winger Nathan Merritt caused a storm yesterday by raising the possibility his controversial omission from the City team was because he is Aboriginal.
Excitement machine Merritt, the scorer of 29 tries in 31 games, is still coming to terms with being left out of the representative team to play Country on Thursday night in Coffs Harbour.
Although stopping short of accusing selectors of being racist, Merritt wanted to know whether he was overlooked because he played at Souths or because of his skin colour.
"I wonder whether it was more a Souths thing or a racial thing," Merritt told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.
"It's just a question."
Asked did he believe racism was still in rugby league, Merritt said: "It could be. There aren't too many indigenous players selected.
"But as long as I'm playing football in first grade it doesn't really bother me.
"I just wondered whether it was a racial thing. But I want to put it behind me."
City selectors chose Hazem El Masri and Jarryd Hayne as their wingers ahead of Merritt - El Masri is of Lebanese descent and Hayne of Fijian heritage.
"Any assertion of racism is ludicrous given the racial mix of the City team and given the ARL's (Australian Rugby League) history of picking players of all races," New South Wales Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr said.
"Nathan Merritt is a good player and, if he continues his form, he may get an opportunity.
"But to allegedly blame it on racism makes no sense. Wingers Eric Grothe and Luke Rooney, who both have played for Australia, also missed out on selection."
Former Test captain Laurie Daley - who is part Aboriginal - was also highly sceptical about Merritt's theory.
"That wouldn't be the case," Daley said. "I'm sure Nathan was looked at for selection along with a lot of good players - selectors don't worry about a players' race, colour or creed.
"The best players were chosen."
Merritt said he couldn't hide his disappointment but was ready to move on.
"It was disappointing but there's always next year and hopefully I can keep going," he said.
"I know I've got no hope for State of Origin now but I'm not worried. I just want to play well for South Sydney.
"I was hoping for selection. I thought I had done enough this year to get picked for City.
"My form's been good and I thought I was going to be in there.
"I now just want to have a big game this Friday night against Brisbane."
Souths co-owner Russell Crowe yesterday expressed surprise Merritt had been overlooked.
"Who is the winger who can contain Nathan Merritt? The answer is nobody in the NRL," Crowe said.
"If you don't choose Nathan in your rep sides, you're not serious about the potentials of our game."
Aside from missing selection, Merritt watched as his Souths side got beaten in the final 30 seconds by New Zealand last Sunday at Homebush.
"It was one of those bad days you don't want to remember," he said. "It was a tough one."
