The call to his boss should have been a congratulatory affair offering thanks for putting him on the verge of becoming an England international.
However, rugby league star Luke Robinson did not really want to speak to Huddersfield Giants chief Nathan Brown. Instead, he was more concerned with urgently speaking to the Australian’s wife.
Recent days have been a whirlwind of mixed emotions for Robinson. The Super League player has hastily postponed his October 25 nuptials in Cyprus and missed his own stag-do in Las Vegas to fly out with England for their Four Nations tour.
He freely admits he has now subsequently incurred the wrath of his future mother-in-law even before tying the knot, but girlfriend Laura Towler has been slightly more understanding.
“I’ve not been kicked out of home,” said the 26-year-old from Halifax. “There’s been a few tears shed, a lot of heart to heart but she’s fully behind me.
“She said it’s a once-in-a-life opportunity, although she was crying as she was saying it.
“Obviously, I wouldn’t be marrying the girl if she didn’t understand what rugby means to me. She realises this is the pinnacle of a player’s career and I love her even more now.
“There have been a few difficult phone calls to people, explaining they’re going to my wedding that I’m not going to be at.”
Robinson should have been departing for Las Vegas today and, as the former Castleford star packs his bags for a dream trip of his own, he had to have another tough conversation with his best man.
“I met him for a drink on Saturday to explain everything but I might have messed up his visa application as well so that didn’t go down well either.
Robinson, who departs for New Zealand on Friday, concedes the couple will have lost thousands of pounds on their big day but insisted: “The money side doesn’t come into it.If you’d have asked me as a kid, I’d have paid a million pounds to play for my country.”
Robinson, who conceded Laura might have her eye on a new car as a potential sweetener for the inconvenience, said there was always a slight risk their wedding day might get knocked out. “Laura’s a history teacher at Ryburn School in Halifax and so, the only time our holidays co-incide are the October half-term holidays,” he said.
“We booked the wedding two years ago. I knew it was a time England could potentially be playing but we had to hedge our bets.
And how did Mrs Brown suggest he broach the whole subject? “I’ll just say she probably gave better advice than Nathan.”
