Qld boss: 'Bellamy is running the league'

Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 13/05/08 | 0

Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore says NSW coach Craig Bellamy is “running the league” after Bellamy got his wish with the number of interchanges allowed in Origin matches reduced from 12 to 10.

Although the NRL now allows 10 interchanges per team each match, Livermore was adamant the rule should not have changed for the higher-tempo interstate clashes.

He accused NSW officials and Bellamy of getting the rule changed in order to benefit the Blues team.

“I spoke to a NSW director at the Test the other night and he was speaking of 12,” Livermore told News Limited.

“I don’t know what has happened in between but they’re not counting straight. They’re grouping up.

“They told me that the large majority want to have 10 interchanges and not 12, well, that’s bulls***.

“Craig Bellamy is running the league as well as his own team now.”

With the Blues expected to name several regular 80-minute players in his forward pack, the change could disadvantage the big Maroons forwards – who could be forced to play and added 15 to 20 minutes.

But Livermore says the extra interchanges make sense in intense Origin matches, and help prevent injury to the NRL’s star players.

“We are just saying that in the interests of the players, their clubs, and the game it should be 12 players,” he said.

“NSW could get a bloke knocked out in the first minute like Dallas Johnson was last year.

“Bellamy would be looking to have 12 interchanges then and rightly so.

“It’s bloody difficult for three other players to be carrying the can, it’s not as though they’re running around at snail’s pace.”

Craig Bellamy is running the league as well as his own team now. Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore