Chris Heighington, a back-rower for the Wests Tigers, has officially decided against the option to represent England, hoping that the recent changes in the NSW State of Origin structure and the hiring of new coach Ricky Stuart will lead to a long-awaited selection this year.
At 28 years old, Heighington had considered making himself available for selection for England after he, along with Tigers coach Tim Sheens, expressed their dissatisfaction at being consistently overlooked by the selectors.
Last year, Heighington was even overlooked for Country Origin, prompting England coach Steve McNamara to reach out to his English teammate Gareth Ellis and Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons regarding a potential allegiance switch.
After considerable thought, Heighington opted not to pursue that route, mentioning that he would have felt proud representing England, particularly as it is where his father Tom is originally from. His decision was significantly influenced by his inclusion in Stuart’s 51-man “Blues-in-waiting” squad, which convened recently for a two-day camp at Homebush Bay.
”Representing England was an option on the table for me,” Heighington reflected. ”It’s one of those situations where my dad is from England, and I take great pride in that. He has always encouraged me to follow my instincts.
“He never pressures me in any direction; he allows me to make my own choices. He has been my source of motivation throughout my career… After waiting for a chance for a few years, I now have an opportunity with a new coach in Ricky Stuart and a fresh coaching staff. There are likely opportunities in a few positions, but it’s worth noting that there are many talented back-rowers in the NRL right now. I just need to perform at my best and see where it leads me.”
Heighington, who extended his contract last October to remain with the Tigers for at least three more seasons, expressed that he has never received any explanations from representative selectors regarding his previous omissions. Despite being one of the league’s most consistent forwards, he has only been chosen once for Country, back in 2008, and has represented the Prime Minister’s XIII twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Nonetheless, he recognized the necessity of outstanding performance this season to earn a representative opportunity.
His club coach, Sheens, who also serves as the Australian coach, has often voiced that Tigers players have not received fair treatment in NSW and Test selections. Following a comeback victory against Canberra last June, Sheens even suggested that Heighington may consider switching national representations if he continued to be excluded.
”Tim has been immensely supportive; he brought me from the [Central] Coast and gave me my chance, and here I am, nine years later, still playing under him,” Heighington acknowledged. ”I owe him so much. He stands up for his players and has been an exceptional coach throughout my time with him.”
Buford Balony says: Good, the POMS don’t deserve him.
