N.Z LEAGUE TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 264, 6 November 1926, Page 11

N.Z LEAGUE TEAM.

DISCONTENTED PI^fEJKS^^ FOUR TO RETURN.^ Cables received from London just over a week ago conveyed the information that the lot of the New Zealand League team of footballers now touring England was not a happy one, and thai exception was taken by some of the members to the cheese-paring attitude of the management and also to tha. method of selection .of the .teams. On top of this report was cablet: a statement from the managers denying that any dissension existed, and-that all was well with the team. . .^ However, it would seem that with the managers the wish was father to the thought, because advice has been received by the New Zealand Rugby League Council that four members of the team had refused to play m certain matches, and had been ordered to return. Three other members of the team then expressed a wish to return also. It is also stated that the trouble was at first confined to one forward, but that he was subsequently joined by six others who have not played since the first Test. Looking through the teams since the Test, there are not six members of the team who have not played in a match since, so the statement can hardly be correct. The names of the discontented players are not available, but it is interesting to note that the Test was played on October 2. Petersen and Mouatt are the only ones who have not played in a match since, but others who have only played in one game are Carroll, Henry, Wright, Devine, Desmond, Singe and Kirwan. Both Petersen and Singe were reported to be suffering with injuries. That there was trouble in the team was known in Auckland a couple of weeks ago, although the New Zealand Council had no information of it. As a matter of fact, it would seem that the New Zealand Council has been but of touch with the team since the members left the Dominion, but this is not likely to continue, and now that the true position is known, the New Zealand body will want to know everything. Instructions have been issued to the English League to act, and it is hoped that a satisfactory settlement will be reached. To-day the team plays Huddersfield, who were not a very powerful side last season.