Noble Wants Cunningham For Lions

Correspondent

Great Britain coach Brain Noble has said he will not rule out Kieron Cunningham travelling down under to the Gillette Tri-Nations despite the St Helens hooker announcing his intention to sit out the tournament.

Cunningham said that he wanted to spend time with his family at the end of the club season and did not want to spend six weeks on the other side of the world.

But Noble said that missing out on Cunningham would be a huge loss for Great Britain, and the Wigan boss hopes to persuade him to continue his Lions career.

"Keiron is a world-class player and to lose a player like him for a Tri-Nations is difficult," said Noble. "I will certainly be speaking to Keiron about his decision, but never say never is what I say."

"I'd like to consider Keiron a friend as well as a colleague in a working environment, so we'll chat and who knows?

Noble believes that Cunningham may feel differently after the high pressure occasion of Saturday's Powergen Challenge Cup final, and wants the opportunity to speak to him about it.

Noble added: "It's important he thinks it through to the final degree but I know that his family play a huge part of his life.

"I just need an opportunity away from the pressures of the cup final and things like that and have a proper chat."