Vainikolo still a hope - NZRL

The Kiwis are holding on to hope of having winger Lesley Vainikolo available for next month's two tri-series league tests against Great Britain.

Vainikolo's Bradford team claim he needs knee surgery after this weekend's Kiwis v Kangaroos match in London.

However NZRL officials believe he can delay the surgery and they are asking Bradford to hold off.

General manager Peter Cordtz believes they can delay the operation and still have him right for the start of the next UK Superleague - this after consulting with Kiwis doctor Chris Hanna in London.

Cordtz says the norm for Vainikolo's knee injury here is not usually surgery and even if Bradford goes ahead with the operation the recovery time will not take as long as they are claiming.

He says surgery after the tri-series final will give Vainikolo 11 or 12 weeks to recover and Hanna thinks he will only need eight to ten weeks.

Cordtz is hoping to hear back from Britain and Bradford coach Brian Noble Thursday or Friday regarding their proposal to delay Vainikolo's surgery.

Meanwhile, it looks like new international kiwi league referee Glen Black will not get the chance to control an Australia v Great Britain test after all.

Black is off to the UK, but the Aussies still do not want him, so a compromise is being drawn up for the remaining tri-series tests.

Cordtz says rather than kicking up a stink against Australia they are making sure Black has some game time.

He says the Brits have agreed to use Black and their own ref Russell Smith in the upcoming tests against the Kiwis, with the Australia v Great Britain matches controlled by Smith and Aussie Tim Mander.

Cordtz says they do not agree with Australia's latest move, despite reports to the contrary.

But Cordtz says in a positive, the Aussies are guaranteeing to help develop New Zealand referees in the NRL.

And New Zealand Rugby League wants the next tri-series run with much better communication.

The current series, just one test old, has almost hit farcical levels, with the Puletua and Vainikolo injury sagas, the field dimensions flare up and now Australian rebuff of New Zealand ref Glen Black.

Peter Cordtz admits it should have been done better.

He says the game has revolved around the Australian NRL and UK Superleague competitions for a long time so establishing international test football as an entity in its own right again is bound to result in some teething problems. The Bradford Bulls have been more than happy for the NZRL to look over Kiwi winger Lesley Vainikolo's medical records.

However, the UK Super League club remains adamant he will have surgery following this weekend's tri-series test against the Kangaroos.

Ironically, Great Britain is coached by Bradford coach Brian Noble.

Bradford football manager Stuart Duffy says he feels for Kiwis fans, but there is no conspiracy and they are sticking to their surgery schedule.

Unfortunately, Vainikolo has come up against time restraints and they have to look after their interests in the player for next season.

He says Vainikolo is getting married back in New Zealand shortly and it is the recovery period following the operation that is forcing the surgery date.

However, the Kiwis are not giving up on having Vainikolo available.

NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz says they believe Vainikolo could have the surgery after the tri-series.

He could then be flown back for his wedding in early December and his recovery could be monitored by Kiwis doctor Chris Hanna.

Cordtz is trying to contact British and Bradford coach Brian Noble to put the plan to him.

Cordtz says they do not entirely agree surgery is necessary anyway, but they will not second guess the Bradford specialist.

Meanwhile, the Australian league team has had a huge hit out in London on Thursday morning.

The Kangaroos are still smarting from the draw at North Harbour Stadium, so coach Wayne Bennett has been putting them through extra sessions in London.

Prop Shane Webcke says it is just a reflection of how hard they need to work to beat the Kiwis, and he would expect to see the same if he turned up to a Kiwis or Great Britain training.

Webcke is interested to see the new second row, in Logan Swann and Ruben Wiki, and believes the Kiwis will miss Penrith pair Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua on Sunday morning.

He also sees Bulldogs wing Matt Utai as a big loss.

Webcke says you cannot take three players like that out of any side, given they play in NRL, week in, week out.