R League: Time for big club in Wales - Iestyn

Oct 29 2007 by Rob Owen, Western Mail

IESTYN HARRIS believes Wales is ripe for a Super League franchise as he admits his illustrious rugby career in both codes is nearing its end.

The 31-year-old Bradford Bulls ace pulled on a Welsh jersey yesterday for the first time since the heroic 2000 World Cup semi-final defeat to Australia as he inspired his country to crush Papua New Guinea at Bridgend’s Brewery Field.

The match was a warm-up for next Sunday’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Glasgow, where Wales must overcome a seven-point deficit from the first leg against Scotland to go through to the tournament in Australia 12 months from now. Harris missed last year’s 21-14 loss to Scotland at the Brewery Field through injury, but showed no signs of any problems yesterday.

And he would not rule out looking at Wales’ only semi-pro rugby league side, the Celtic Crusaders, as a club he could coach in the future. The Crusaders are looking to apply for a Super League franchise and there is optimism that it could happen next year.

Harris said Wales could not miss this chance after they did so over a decade ago, saying, “You go way back to 1995 and we did magnificently well in the World Cup. They missed a fantastic opportunity for a franchise then.

“I know the Crusaders have been working hard behind the scenes and I think it would be good if it happened.

“A Super League team in Wales would get good crowds. As everyone knows, the union side are not doing that well at the moment and it would be great for a Super League team to take it on for Wales.”

Harris, who returned to rugby league in 2004 after his £1.5m move to the union code with Wales and Cardiff Blues ended, said he is looking at his long-term future in the sport now

He said, “I’m 32 at the World Cup and I don’t want to go and play until I’m 36 or 37. I desperately want to go into coaching. If the right opportunity to coach a side came along, I would take it.”

Harris also desperately wants to lead from the front for Wales in the Australia World Cup tournament. He added, “It’s been a long time since I played for Wales and I spoke to Martin Hall, the national coach, last year when he asked me when I retired from playing for Great Britain would I consider playing for Wales.”

Papua New Guinea are actually seeded automatically through to the World Cup, but are in a real “group of death” alongside England, New Zealand and the mighty Aussies.

And, although the team gelled together very well to thrash Papua New Guinea, Harris said, “It’s difficult to know what to take out of that game. I think they caved in in the second half and it was more like a training run for us.”

There is no doubt, though, that Harris and half-back partner Lee Briers ran the show and Wales were a far better team for their presence than last year.

Other than one blip in the first half, the Welsh were in command for most of the match, leading 16-6 at half-time then running in another 34 points after the break. Wing Dave Halley and replacement Damien Gibson both got two of their side’s nine touchdowns, with Phil Joseph, Robert Roberts, Matt James, Sean Penkywicz and Mark Lennon getting the rest.