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Lyon, Jamie |
  Jamie LYON [Player Stats] + Submit additional information or a correction to this player 
Should Lyon be stood down from club duties? Thu June 26, 2008 by Matthew O'Neill There are calls today for Manly centre Jamie Lyon to be stood-down from club football this weekend after he unofficially made himself unavailable for NSW selection with the vacant centre position going to Joel Mongahan. The Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne clubs have been loudest in their calls for Lyon to be omitted from Manly's side to play the Knights on Saturday night. The Broncos and Storm have been ripped apart this season due to representative duties and of course the Sea Eagles do battle against the Knights. Newcastle CEO Steve Burraston said, "Technically, Manly will argue that Lyon hasn't been officially picked so he has a right to play against us. "Morally, it is not right and he should be stood down. "I'm not a fan of winning games off the field but this is something that needs to be looked at. I don't think it is fair. We have three of our best players unavailable and Manly are almost at full strength." Manly CEO Grant Mayer in response to Burraston's comments said, "I suggest Steve reads the rules. I can't see any reference to morals. "The rules are clear and I would suggest that anybody wishing to question either Manly's or Jamie's integrity should simply check their facts." Lyon attempted a back door exit from representative football without officially telling the ARL of his intentions not play in the Origin series this year. Lyon notified NSW coach Craig Bellamy on the side that he would rather not be selected in the Origin series unless it was absolutely urgent. The NRL are in a very tough decision here and going on history from 21 years ago they have little option but to stand Lyon down due to consistency in the rules. Former Wests and Canterbury legend Terry Lamb was recently voted as one of the greatest 100 players of all-time. However, Lamb courted controversy several times during his career when it came to his availability in representative matches. Lamb was a member of the 1986 undefeated Kangaroo Tour where he became the 1st and only player in the history of Kangaroo Tours to take part in every match. Lamb the following season decided he wanted to be with his pregnant wife Kym and his young family. Lamb offiically notified NSWRL boss John Quayle of his decision to stand-down from representative matches for the 1987 season. Along with Peter Sterling, Lamb was the form player in the Sydney Premiership over the 1986-87 seasons. He was 25 at the time when his request was denied on the grounds that he wasn't yet the age of 28. The NSWRL only accepted the unavailability of Steve Mortimer and Craig Young for that season. Lamb was stood down from Canterbury matches when the opening Origin match took place. In the end Canterbury CEO Peter Moore and the NSWRL came to a reluctant compromise and Lamb was able to fulfil his Canterbury commitments, be near his family and not be called away on NSW duties, which that season included a match in Los Angeles. It wasn't the first or last time Lamb courted representative controversy. He created a furore in 1982 after just turning 21 he declined selection in the Kangaroo Tour side as he was getting married and he wouldn't budge in changing the date of the wedding. Lamb copped plenty of criticism from League centrics for his decision and many believe Lamb's decision in 1982 cost him selection in a struggling NSW side in 1983 when that season he won the Dally M Award despite his club side Wests finishing last on the table. Lamb was picked for NSW in 1984 and 1986 and was a walk up selection in the Australian side in 1986 even though both Wally Lewis and Brett Kenny was in the side before the controversy in 1987 erupted. Lamb also ruled himself unavailable for selection on the 1990 Kangaroo Tour and 1992 World Cup, but by that stage he had passed the age of 28 and was able to make his unavailability a formality without any loopholes of objection from the ARL or NSWRL. Naturally Lamb was a supporter of Lyon's decision and said, "As it was for me, the choice should be his not to play. As I said to John Quayle at the time, it is my decision to play Rugby League. It should be my decision not to play for NSW. "Jamie Lyon has been in great form this year and if he's still in that form at the end of the year, he should be considered for Australia." Personally I support Lyon's decision and what Lamb said is correct. However, the NSWRL back in 1987 set a very dangerous precedent when they stood Lamb down from club duties when he declined NSW selection to play for Canterbury and be near his pregnant wife and young family. Lamb was asked in 2006 at a presentation function as to whether he make the same decisions he made in 1982 and 1987 and he said, "In a heartbeat - Family comes 1st." The administrators should admit they made a massive error of judgement with Lamb and admit they failed to recognise the importance of families in Rugby League when Lamb first in 1982 and again in 1987 put family before representative honours despite not being in the veteran class at the time. If they fail to admit their errors in regards to Lamb and the values of families in Rugby League, the NRL has no other option to stand Lyon down from Manly duties this weekend. The NRL and ARL one way or the other has to make a firm decision and just quietly Newcastle should stay out of it and worry about themselves for Saturday night. Country dealt triple blow Mon April 28, 2008 by Matthew O'Neill Country Origin have been dealt a triple blow, with outside backs Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon and Matt Cooper all ruled out of Friday night's clash against City Origin in Wollongon. Fullback Stewart (calf), and the centre pairing of Lyon (personal reasons) and Cooper (back) were all scratched at the medical this morning. Cronulla's Brett Kearney moves from the bench to fullback with Stewart out and Bulldogs custodian Luke Patten currently injured. Amos Roberts comes onto the wing with Joel Monaghan shifting into the centres where he'll be partnered alongside North Queensland's Ben Harris. St George Illawarra utility Ben Hornby has been added to the bench with Kearney promoted into the starting side. Revised Country Team: 1. Brett Kearney (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks) 2. Amos Roberts (Sydney Roosters) 3. Joel Monaghan (Canberra Raiders) 4. Ben Harris (North Queensland Cowboys) 5. Anthony Quinn (Melbourne Storm) 6. Todd Carney (Canberra Raiders) 7. Brett Finch (Parramatta Eels) 8. Brett White (Melbourne Storm) 9. Danny Buderus, captain (Newcastle Knights) 10. Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast Titans) 11. Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels) 12. Andrew Ryan (The Bulldogs) 13. Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters) Subs: 14. Ben Cross (Newcastle Knights) 15. Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers) 16. Ben Hornby (St George Illawarra Dragons) 17. Glenn Stewart (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) Coach: Laurie Daley
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