Steve McNamara is hoping to defuse the clash between Ryan Bailey and Jon Wilkin after including the pair in his 24-man squad for the Four Nations.
McNamara hoping to put rivalry to one side in Four Nations
Steve McNamara is hoping to defuse the clash between Ryan Bailey and Jon Wilkin after including the pair in his 24-man squad for the Four Nations.
St Helens back rower Wilkin slammed the Leeds prop for his 'over-the-top' celebrations in the wake of the Rhinos dramatic 32-16 victory at Old Trafford.
"I thought 16 of their players were possibly the most gracious people in victory and lovely fellas as well," Wilkin told the
League Weekly newspaper.
"But the way Ryan Bailey behaved - I'm embarrassed for him as a human being. I've never seen such a child play a man's game before in my life."
Attraction
They will go into camp at Loughborough University on Wednesday to prepare for next week's warm-up match against France and England coach McNamara says he will broach the subject with them then.
"I think Ryan Bailey has probably got under the skin of more players than anybody else in the competition and that's part of his attraction," McNamara told a news conference at the South Leeds Stadium.
"Jon was obviously disappointed and things get said in the heat of the moment after a game.
"I remember playing with Graeme Bradley who was probably the most hated man ever to play rugby league but, once people got to work with him, they had a different opinion of him.
"I can't see an issue with it but it's something we'll speak about when we get together."
