Malta's build-up to next weekend's World Cup qualifier, the second in Division 2B, received a huge setback yesterday when it was announced that the National Rugby League (NRL) had stopped Jarrod Sammut from playing against Sweden for having breached his contract by playing Rugby Union matches.

Penrith Panthers chief executive Mick Leary told the Daily Telegraph in Australia that he was surprised when informed that the two internationals he had agreed to release Sammut for were not Rugby League games.

Malta were a whisker away from winning the match at the Hibs Ground on Saturday against Croatia before conceding a last-minute penalty and lost 18-16.

Sammut played a blinder for the Maltese and scored 11 points.

"I received a letter from the Malta Rugby League on August 25 saying they wanted him for international commitments,'' Leary was quoted as saying on the Daily Telegraph.

"He was to do public relations to promote Rugby League. They also sought releases for internationals against Croatia and Sweden.

"Now, since it was on a Malta Rugby League letterhead, how was I to know he was going to play Rugby Union? We have pulled him out of Saturday's game against Sweden.'

It seems that Penrith had given their go-ahead for Sammut to play for the national team in Sweden but earlier this week the NRL applied its veto power to stop the move.

Malta Rugby League president Mark Sultana told reporters that giving players to Rugby Union was part of a deal to get league competitions started in the country.

"We've got quite a good working relationship with them... it's helping us form a stronger bond and relationship with Rugby Union which we need to do to get domestic Rugby League happening in Malta," Sultana said.

Malta Rugby Union coach Damien Neill preferred not to comment when contacted yesterday.

Sammut, meanwhile, practised regularly with the team and is still named in the squad to make the trip for Gothenburg tomorrow.

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