Rugby League: Goodway avoids Reilly job row

THE GREAT Britain coach, Andy Goodway, has refused to be drawn into a row over Malcolm Reilly apparently having eyes on his job.

Reilly, who was in charge of the national squad for seven years and who is returning to Britain to coach Huddersfield next season, has said he would love another chance at the Great Britain job and is surprised Goodway has been given it for three years. "I'm not bothered by what he's said, because it's irrelevant," said Goodway at the announcement yesterday of a six-figure sponsorship for the three-match series against New Zealand this autumn. "But 12-months ago no one wanted the job, because I have had to start from scratch."

Goodway was immediately given the backing of the Rugby League's chief executive Neil Tunnicliffe. He said: "Andy has a three-year contract and we wouldn't have given him that if we hadn't thought he was the right man for the job." Goodway now knows a little more about the task in the New Zealand series, which is to be sponsored by the Lincoln Financial Group. The Kiwi coach, Frank Endacott, has named a 24-man squad for the tour, including the British-based Paul brothers, Henry and Robbie, but excluding Leeds' Richie Blackmore, who missed their play-off victory over Halifax on Sunday after suffering a hernia. The uncapped Parramatta prop, Nathan Cayless, is the surprise name in the squad.

Goodway said: "There are some new faces among the ones we know. It's a strong squad, but I'm confident we've got the quality to compete."

Goodway is sticking to his plan of not naming his squad until after the Super League Grand Final on 24 October, just a week before the first Test at Huddersfield. The most intriguing question he has to answer is how to use Iestyn Harris, with the likely solution being to follow Leeds' policy by starting with him at full-back and moving him to stand-off during games.

Fereti Tuilagi, injured in Halifax's defeat by Leeds at Headingley, seems to have played his last match for the club. Tuilagi, who is joining this Friday's opponents, St Helens, next season, twisted his suspect knee on Sunday night and will not be fit for at least three weeks.

A Lancashire Lynx player has returned from their victory over the French champions, St Esteve, with an air-gun pellet lodged in his scalp. Their forward, Neil Mawdesley, was involved in a skirmish with security staff at a night club during which a baseball bat and a gun were produced. Mawdesley was hit in the face with a pistol-butt and then cut on the head by a shot. The Rugby League is also looking into complaints about the behaviour of players on the flight home which Lancashire shared with Wakefield and Featherstone.

Lancashire, the Second Division champions, are signing Mike Edwards from Oldham, who planned to announce the identity of their new coach today. Their former player, Mike Ford, who was regarded as a strong contender, has ruled himself out, saying that the club has not been in touch, but has admitted that he would be interested in the vacancy at Featherstone.

Castleford have signed the Fijian prop and captain, James Pickering, while Warrington have put their teenager scrum-half, John Duffy, on the transfer list at pounds 25,000. Pickering, 28, who has made 14 first-grade appearances for Sydney City this season, is the Tigers' second capture from Australia for the 1999 season following the signing of hooker Aaron Raper, brother of coach Stuart. Stuart Raper said: "James is a world-class player and he is a major acquisition for the club."

The New Zealand coach, Frank Endacott, believes his team can seal their first series against Australia since 1953 on Friday. New Zealand won the first Test in April and Endacott said: "If they [Australia] are not on their game, they could find themselves 2-0 down."