Cam Murray has ruled himself out of the Kangaroo Tour—and a former English international isn’t happy about it.
After missing the first 26 rounds of the year with an Achilles rupture, the 27-year-old looks set to finally take the field for South Sydney against arch rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
But according to Murray that will be the start and end of his season, having already informed Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters that he doesn’t wish to be considered for the three-match tour to England.
“Would he do it for Origin?” James Graham asked on The Bye Round podcast, clearly unimpressed at any suggestion Murray’s club may be pressuring him to stay in Australia.
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“It shouldn’t matter, if it happened in Round 14 and Origin was in between Round 15 and 16, he wouldn’t do that (make himself unavailable),” Graham said.
“If he wants to be there, tell the club.”
A veteran of 45 tests for England and nine for Great Britain during his own playing career, Graham pointed to the urgent need to re-establish the status of international rugby league.
“We need to build up the international game so that a player like Cam Murray comes back and wants to be on that plane to England,” Graham said.
“I understand it, but like I said, if he was back (in time) for Origin he’d be playing, he wouldn’t be like ‘oh, I can’t do that intensity’.”
“If international rugby league is as prestigious as we want, or should be aiming to make it, it would be ‘right, he’s played, let’s get him (to England).”
The Kangaroo Tour begins at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 25 October.