Thursday 28 April 2016 13:02, UK
England coach Wayne Bennett is at the centre of a huge controversy in Australia after blocking stand-off Anthony Milford's bid to play for Samoa in next week's Pacific Test against Tonga.
Milford represented Samoa at the 2013 World Cup in England before switching his allegiance to Australia by opting to play for Queensland's U20s in 2014.
But under Rugby League International Federation rules the two-year period of ineligibility expires next Tuesday, clearing him to play for Samoa four days later.
Samoa coach Matt Parish selected the in-form Brisbane Broncos stand-off in his squad after the player was overlooked by the Australian selectors for next Friday's Test against New Zealand, but Broncos coach Bennett says he will not release him.
"Anthony Milford is not playing for Samoa," Bennett told the Brisbane Courier-Mail. "I don't care what people think. I've made the call and Anthony will not be playing."
At least 10 of Bennett's Broncos players will feature in the NRL's representative round next week, including Australian quintet Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett and Josh McGuire and Josh Ofahengaue, who will represent Tonga against Samoa.
RLIF development officer Tas Baitieri hit out at the news, saying: "It's double standards. I don't think an NRL coach has the power to prevent Milford playing.
"The international game will take a hit out of this. Anthony Milford is the form player of the NRL and if he's not in the Samoan team, it devalues the quality of the game."
