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From today’s SMH by Chris Barrett:
WESTS TIGERS back-rower Chris Heighington has officially scrapped an option to represent England, hoping an overhaul of the NSW State of Origin set-up and appointment of new coach Ricky Stuart can lead to an overdue representative call-up this year.
The 28-year-old had weighed up accepting an offer to make himself available for England selection after he and Tigers coach Tim Sheens voiced frustration at his continually being overlooked by selectors. Heighington was even snubbed by Country Origin last year, leading England coach Steve McNamara to contact the forward’s English teammate Gareth Ellis and Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons about switching allegiances.
After much contemplation, Heighington has chosen not to go down that path, although he said he would have been proud to play for England, where his father Tom hails from. A major contributor to the decision was his selection in Stuart’s 51-man ‘‘Blues-in-waiting’’ squad that gathered last weekend for a two-day camp at Homebush Bay.
‘‘It was an option there for me,’’ Heighington said of representing England. ‘‘It’s one of those things, where my dad is from England, and I’m very proud of where he’s from. He’s always been a father that [says] do what you feel is best. He just doesn’t push me in any direction. He lets me do that. He’s been my inspiration thorough my career … It’s been a few years, and now I’ve got an opportunity, and there’s a new coach on board with Ricky Stuart and new coaching staff. There’s probably an opportunity in a couple of positions there but, in saying that, there’s a lot of good back-rowers in the NRL at the moment. I just have to play my best and see what happens.’’
Heighington, who last October signed an extension that will keep him at the Tigers for at least three more seasons, said he had never received any feedback from representative selectors explaining why he was overlooked. Despite being one of the competition’s most consistent forwards, he has been picked for Country only once, in 2008, and played for the Prime Minister’s XIII twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Even so, he acknowledged his form must be outstanding this season to gain a look-in.
Heighington’s club coach Sheens, also the Australian coach, has long noted vocally that Tigers players copped a raw deal at the NSW and Test selection table. And it was Sheens, who after a comeback win over Canberra last June, warned that Heighington could swap national allegiances if he kept being left out.
‘‘Tim has been great for me; he brought me from the [Central] Coast and gave me an opportunity, and now, nine years on, I’m still playing under him,’’ Heighington said. ‘‘I owe a lot to him. He does go into bat for his players, and he’s been a great coach to me over the past nine years.’’
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Hmmm it does smell like he is doing this because he was snubbed by England last year.
Will he switch his allegiances again if NSW snub him again?Still best of luck Heighno.
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Loyalty to the Tigers aside, I feel Heighno should have represented NSW last year. Fingers crossed the selectors see the light this year.
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I hope he gets there, but I don’t think he will. Stuarts little pow wow the other day already included 2 second rowers in bird/gallen. There are too many quality 2nd rowers in NSW.
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Yeah but is he “built for Origin”? No wonder NSW has lost the past five series!
Good luck to Chris he has been a loyal and dedicated servant to the Tigers and wouldn’t dissapoint in a Blue jersey. -
I really hope Chris gets the recognition he truly deserves. For far too long have Tigers players got the raw end of the deal at the rep selection table. Go tiges!! :wahoo:
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I hope he gets there, but I don’t think he will. Stuarts little pow wow the other day already included 2 second rowers in bird/gallen. There are too many quality 2nd rowers in NSW.
2 done and I would say NSW need 3 more. May God destroy NSW if Watmough, Creagh or Hindmarsh are picked infront of Heighno.
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I hope he gets there, but I don’t think he will. Stuarts little pow wow the other day already included 2 second rowers in bird/gallen. There are too many quality 2nd rowers in NSW.
2 done and I would say NSW need 3 more. May God destroy NSW if Watmough, Creagh or Hindmarsh are picked infront of Heighno.
Good call TP!!
Gallen & Bird are incumbent Test back-rowers (and old mates of Sticky) - while Watmough & Creagh only like to run the ball on the edges but are useless defenders - and Hindmarsh makes zero yardage + he only builds his tackle count as 2nd or 3rd man in!!!
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Good on him for backing himself!
Although he is probably looking at a bench spot, I don’t see how they can keep denying him a spot.
Isn’t is strange we can go from zero Origin players in 2010, to a strong possibility of 5 Origin players for for 2011….yet we didn’t sign any big names in the off season haha!
Daley is gone so please please please let the selectors see sense on Farah.
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I hope he gets there, but I don’t think he will. Stuarts little pow wow the other day already included 2 second rowers in bird/gallen. There are too many quality 2nd rowers in NSW.
2 done and I would say NSW need 3 more. May God destroy NSW if Watmough, Creagh or Hindmarsh are picked infront of Heighno.
Good call TP!!
Gallen & Bird are incumbent Test back-rowers (and old mates of Sticky) - while Watmough & Creagh only like to run the ball on the edges but are useless defenders - and Hindmarsh makes zero yardage + he only builds his tackle count as 2nd or 3rd man in!!!
I think Watmough & Creagh will be in the mix… possibly G. Stewart too if Manly lift their game this year. But I definitely agree Heighno is far superior to Hindmarsh.
I hope Heighno gets a run. Like others have said before, he certainly wouldn’t let you down…. except for in a Preliminary Final scrum.
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This is old news SMH http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/10/14/heighington-can-t-resist-lure-of-blues/By Nathan Ryan14 October 2010 05:06PM ESTCHRIS Heighington will not use his British passport to play for England in the Four Nations, saying his ultimate dream is represent Australia and NSW. October 23rd marks the beginning of rugby league’s Four Nations tournament with England and New Zealand kicking proceedings off over the Tasman at Westpac Stadium.One noticeable absentee from the English line up will be lock Heighington who was reportedly going to play for England after he narrowly missed out on Origin selection this year.However the lure of the prestigious Blues jersey is too hard to refuse - it sits atop the 27-year-old’s to do list.“I’m leaving my allegiances to Australia, my ultimate dream is to represent Australia and NSW and I don’t want to jeopardise that,” he exclusively told sportsnewsfirst.com.au.With selectors overlooking the experienced 2005 premiership winner, the 27-year-old was looking to speak with England coach Steve McNamara ahead of the Four Nations.It is understood McNamara was enthusiastic about having Heighington in the red and white, but the team chose instead to stick with English-born players.Heighington believes it was a sensible decision to stay aligned with the country of his birth.“My dad’s from there and came over at 25, I still have a lot of family who live over there but I’ve only been back a couple of times,” he said.“It wouldn’t be fair.“Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league and it has always been a dream of mine to wear the sky blue jersey.“Heighington featured heavily in the Wests Tigers finals campaign, making it to the preliminary final, one game short of a second grand final appearance.In the meantime the goals of the 2008 and ‘09 Prime Ministers’ XIII representative are simple.“My goal now is to play well for the Tigers and take it a step further next year,” Heighington said.“If my game stays consistent hopefully an origin jersey will follow.”
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All Heighno can do is play consistently well, to show the powers to be rep team selector’s he is worthy of being in a rep team.
if you don’t give a bloke a chance, you will never see the result.
