Staggs’ loyalty clear ahead of World Cup call
Murray Wenzel |
Kotoni Staggs has only guaranteed he’ll represent Australia at next year’s Rugby League World Cup if Kevin Walters is still the Kangaroos coach.
Brisbane’s premiership star and Dally M centre of the year capped a dream campaign with an impressive showing in Australia’s 3-0 tour sweep of England.
He is also eligible to play for Tonga though and must decide which nation he’ll represent ahead of the tournament to be split between Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand next year.
It won’t be a tough call for Staggs though, unless his former Brisbane coach is no longer in the role.
“Playing back with Kev was good,” Staggs said after another victory, this time in Wednesday’s Australian PGA pro-am alongside Adam Reynolds, Jesse Arthurs and Cameron Smith.
“We’ve got a good relationship. I love being alongside him and being coached by him, he’s taught me a lot.
“If Kev stays in that role, I don’t see myself anywhere else.
“If he’s there, I’ll be there as well with him, but time will tell.”
Walters wants to stay in the job but is yet to be confirmed.
Staggs is still revelling in the NRL premiership glow but is bracing for another testing preseason under Michael Maguire.
“I wake up every morning with my (premiership) ring next to me,” he said.
“We had a yarn before we split after the grand final … what he did at the back end of our year, he left it all in our hands and he believes in us and I don’t think we need to change anything.
“We train hard and we always do.”
AAP
