Malta Rugby League (MRL) president Mark Sultana rejected reports suggesting his organisation was 'deceitful' during negotiations with Australia's Penrith Panthers for the release of flyhalf Jarrod Sammut ahead of Malta's World Cup qualifiers this month.

On Tuesday, Australia's Daily Telegraph reported that governing body National Rugby League (NRL) had barred Sammut from playing in the Rugby Union World Cup qualifier against Sweden for breaching his contract by playing against Croatia on Saturday at the Hibs Ground.

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

However, in a statement released yesterday, Sultana said that the Malta Rugby League was frank and open in its request for the release of the player for the Rugby Union World Cup.

"Comments made in the past 24 hours suggested that the MRL was deceitful in its discussions with the Penrith Panthers management," Sultana said.

"However, we feel we were open and honest in all communications regarding Jarrod Sammut's involvement in promoting and developing Rugby League in Malta, which included assisting Rugby Union.

"This unique relationship has seen no fewer than four Rugby League players in the past three years assist in the 'rugby' development on the Maltese islands and vice-versa with 10 local Rugby Union players representing Malta Rugby League in an international last October.

"The MRL has all the documentation to show for our dealings with the Penrith club and clearly submitted the request to release Jarrod for these commitments in black and white. In return, the Penrith club produced the release in writing also in direct response to our request."

Meanwhile, Sammut again practised with Damien Neill's squad at the Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday ahead of Saturday's away match against Sweden.

The Malta team will be leaving for Gothenburg this morning via London.