Jordan Turner column: Rooney would be a rugby league star!

Why do we keep sticking the boot into Wayne Rooney?

Seeing him made the fall-guy really annoys and frustrates me.

I just hope no rugby league player is ever subjected to the kind of scrutiny Rooney has to endure for both club and country.

It is totally wrong and uncalled for in my view and is way over the top.

What is achieved from constantly analysing and criticising such a proven top-class player? Nothing.

We all know how good Rooney is and what he can bring to any team.

I bet he would have made an equally fantastic rugby league player!

I speak as a United fan and it really makes my blood boil to see the way he is treated and cross-examined by so many both before, during and after a game.

As a professional sportsman myself, I bet his team-mates love to play alongside him.

I am sure they aren’t knocking him. They will know 100 per cent effort from Rooney is guaranteed in every game.

And they would rather be playing alongside Rooney than opposing him.

What annoys me is whenever England or United fail to deliver, the spotlight immediately falls on Rooney and he is blamed.

Why did Rooney not do this, that or the other?

It’s clear you will not find a more committed and determined sportsman. It’s been the same all the way through the World Cup and it’s time to leave off him in my view.

He is a truly great player.

Speaking of great players, it’s only right I should also heap glowing praise on my veteran St Helens team-mate Paul Wellens.

He came back into the side against Castleford and was majestic at full-back.

I have never known such a more professional player. He is a born winner – he even wants to win the little runs we do in the warm-ups.

I have never known a more competitive and tougher trainer than Wello. He is Saints through and through and you cannot help but admire him.

He just went back to full-back and it was if he had reinvented himself. It has possibly been a year since he last trained in the role and to watch him was out of this world.

The win over Castleford has set us up nicely for the big game at Wigan on Friday night. We bounced back after a very bad day at the office in France against Catalans.

This defeat hurt us but you can get days when nothing goes right.

Two players have gone under the radar for us this season. Both have been outstanding in my view. They are Jon Wilkin and Lance Hohaia.

They are both so consistent and possibly do not get the recognition they deserve.

Article source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/former-scotland-rugby-international-on-rape-charge-1-3150028

Jordan Turner column: Rooney would be a rugby league star!