By Jonathan B Geddes

FIVE-EIGHTH Max Burey played 200 minutes – or the equivalent of two and a half Super games – for the Western Force this season.

But on the eve of Saturday’s Shute Shield clash with Eastwood, the provincial franchise told Northern Suburbs their star No.10 could not play as he was on enforced leave.

What made the situation even harder to fathom was that Burey had trained with Norths all week preparing for the game.

Considering the last minute disruption it was a credit to Norths that they scored a 45-35 win over the competition’s quiet achievers Eastwood at North Sydney Oval and climbed to sixth on the ladder.

The circumstances of Burey’s late scratching again raise questions why Super players can’t  get more valuable game time with their clubs. Especially as the new Super Rugby AUS competition doesn’t kick off until September.

Norths president Brad Leahy learnt about Burey’s unavailability on Saturday morning.

“I was on the phone immediately trying to figure out why the decision was made,” he told Rugby News after the game.

A board member also contacted Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh, a passionate advocate of club rugby.

SEEKING CLARITY       

“ALL I know from the Force’s GM was they have enforced an annual leave rest window and that’s it,” Leahy said.

“We are a bit confused because has apparently only played about 200 minutes, so we are hoping to have a meeting with the Force on Monday to get some clarity around why and whether it is the best for the sport and Max and all those kind of things.

“It doesn’t sound like it was the right decision for rugby.”

Leahy echoes the overwhelming view across the rugby community that Super players should be available for their clubs as often as possible.

“If there is s and c (strength and conditioning) data that supports them having a rest because they have too many miles in their legs or they have injuries, then they should have a rest,” he said.

“In this circumstance none of that seems to be part of the equation.”       

JUT LET THEM PLAY FOOTY

NORTHS coach Zak Beer was sitting down for dinner with his family at 7.30 on Friday evening when Burey contacted him with the devastating news he was out.

“In my opinion Max has the ability to be one of the standout 10s in the country,” he said.

“These guys need to be playing footy.

“If they are given work on points to develop as players, what better way to see them developing than by playing Shute Shield?

“Max is in the key years of his career as a playmaker – every bit of feedback they told him to action he has an opportunity to do in one of the best club competitions in the world –  with his local club where he came through the Colts program.”     

In another twist it is understood the Force were comfortable for Burey to have a stint in the  New Zealand provincial competition.

“They would have been happy for players to go over to the NPC,” Beer said. “Why would we not want to strengthen Australian rugby and keep Australian eligible players playing here where they can develop?

“If we genuinely want the Shute Shield to be a strong third-tier competition, the non-Wallabies should be playing in our strongest club competition.”

One has  to feel for Burey, the proverbial meat in the rugby sandwich, as he watched Saturday’s game from the grandstand.  

Coincidentally Waugh said last week the Wallabies are not playing enough games.

Speaking of rugby in the northern hemisphere he said:  “They’re playing a lot more rugby than we are at the provincial level and they’ve got good skill level and capabilities.”

 CLEARING THE HURDLES 

BEER was justifiably proud of the spirit displayed by his team against the Woodies.      

“There are always obstacles at this time of year,”  he said. “Anyone who has the red and black shirt on in front or behind the fence has the responsibility to deliver in July and August,” he said. “We love it as a club and we move onto Randwick now.”

It was a big performance from Burey’s replacement Matt Minogue, who capped an impressive performance after his late call-up by kicking six goals from six attempts against his former club.