Offiah hits out at Schofield's 'small-minded' views on coach

14 April 2012

Garry Schofield, the former Great Britain captain who vigorously opposed the appointment this week of Australian Tony Smith as the new Lions coach, has come under fire himself.

Schofield has been accused of being parochial and small-minded' by former international team-mate Martin Offiah.

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Martin Offiah holds the Challenge Cup at Wembley, which will be hosting this year's final

In an ideal world you would want a British coach but we don't live in an ideal world,' said Offiah, the former Widnes and Wigan winger who played 33 times for Great Britain, many of them under Schofield's leadership.

Schofield criticised the RFL for appointing an Australian to the national coaching job for the second time in six years — as he did when David Waite was given a three-year contract in 2001.

He was not alone in voicing his disapproval, but Offiah added: Garry says we should appoint a British coach but it is a luxury we cannot afford. We need the best man for the job and Tony Smith can quite possibly do a good job. He gave Leeds their first title for 32 years.'

Offiah applauds Smith's pledge to groom a successor, at the end of the 2009 Tri-Nations, from the ranks of up-and-coming British coaches and nominates Warrington's Paul Cullen.

He said: I like Cullen and think he could be the man to follow Smith. I also have a lot of respect for Karl Harrison at Salford.'

Wakefield's in-form half back Jamie Rooney, who tore a quad muscle in Sunday's win against Warrington, has been ruled out for six weeks by his club but hopes to be back much sooner.

He said: If I can start jogging next week, I hope to make it back for one of our Easter games.'

Catalans have lost second row forward Sebastien Raguin and loose forward Greg Mounis for at least two months. Raguin broke an arm and Mounis suffered a triple fracture of an index finger in the French club's historic win at Bradford on Sunday.

Hull KR will give reserve half back Matty Brooks, 20, his first appearance of the season against Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

But forward Ian Morrison will be out for the next 10 weeks as he recovers from a fractured cheekbone and a broken jaw.