PARKIN SPEAKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 9

PARKIN SPEAKS.

THREE TIMES IN N.Z. TEST MATCH PROSPECTS. A MEMORY OF MESSENGER. Of the galaxy of star Rugby football players who have visited New Zealand from time to time, Jonathan Parkin, captain of the present Rugby League team from England, is among the most famous, and, incidentally, one of the most modest of men. He holds the record of making three long overseas tours, and these in four-year durations. In between he has participated in leading League club contests of the Homeland, and before leaving 011 this trip he was, according to team associates here, more brilliant than ever in his career Long Playing Career.

Parkin started his footballing at the age of 10 years, when he represented his ' school district as a forward. At thirteen lie was playing stand-off half in the "under 10" grade. Three years later lie was playing five-eighths in the juniors under 21 years for North Featherston. •*o.sj£akefield he was signed up that year by i/ie ••!ul>, and received £5 to play in the mate.'. the reserve team. The following week he \va> placed in the first senior team, and he has nevei been off the first team register except through injuries received on the field. Like the proverbial Christmas tree, he as an inside back, packed with the ideas, ability and experience which inspire the sort of football that thrills. Jonathan, always enjoying the compliment of his full name, is withal a live little chap with tons of reserve energy. He has crammed a wealth of life into his 33 summers.

has had everything, including leg, rib and nose smashes. It is fair to say that, * despite accidents, his nasal organ still r carries the bridge of ambition. Selected as flv half for the 1920 team to go abroad. Jonathan came here and played scrum half, in which position he has \ played ever since, the undisputed champion in that role. He remembers his first 1 game against Auckland that year, when 1 lit; scored a number of tries. a Mutton Birds and Oysters. f Coming to the Dominion in 1924 Parkin * and Sullivan developed septic throats 1 after the team had severely beaten t Auckland. When the first Test was played in Auckland, which resulted in a < win for New Zealand, the two players I mentioned were still in a nursing home, j c They were unable to plav when England | t lost the next Test, but were right in j time for the third Test (won by Eng- J land), played in Dunedin before a record attendance. "It has greatly interested our team of that year, and also followers of the code in England, to know that outmatch in Otago was the direct inspiration for the starting of tlie game down in the southern part of New Zealand," says Parkin, who adds, "and we can assure you that that is why we are this time looking forward to our tour South. , We are also rather pleased to know that | we will have an opportunity of seeing | Southland, where. 1 understand, we are \to play a special exhibition match i l against New Zealand at Invercargill, < I which, besides being the largest southernmost town in the world, was the first place to play the League game in New Zealand. T have also frequently told the hoys about the mutton birds and the ! oysters that, are produced down that j way. We will all be going there for i the first time.'' j Hopes to Play in South. In the course of further conversation | Parkin said that his thumb, which had ! been broken badly twice on this tour, I was now on the mend. '•However," lie added. "I am going to make a special effort, to tak'e my place on the field in j the South, and. it' 1 can manage it, I will play at Dunedin. It' not. it will take a I good deal to prevent me appearing at Invercargill. I want to be able to enhance my record by being able to say I played against New Zealand ill the very southernmost large town of the j Empire. We are all looking forward to this feature of a great tour."' j Keen to Win Tests. "The two Tests ahead are giving us something to think about." said the experienced captain. "Some people seem to think we will win easily. Wc are not at all sure about, that. The standard of Rugby League is very much higher than ' what we were led to believe to Australia. It is certainly on a higher plane than when we were last here. It is all very well for people on the sideline to say this and that, but our players are far the better judges as to the merits of the opposition, especially after the first few games. They have been very fought battles, and we have had to play all out to win. The team is going to take no chances, because we want to avenge the Test losses we suffered when here in 1924. If we possibly can be intend to succeed. If you do beat us we will be the first to extend congratulations. Our men are big fellows who play hard and clean. Some players on either side in big play are apt to lose tempers. But it is a mail's game in which players have to give and take the knocks. Still, the first j essential is clean play.'' At Sydney Parkin was invited to the I aerodrome, and had his baptism in aero- | nautics. Later he went up again with j I Captain Mitchell ill a 'plane which carried out a series of stunt Asked how he liked the experience Parkin replied: "I didn't get a thrill.'' Apparently his nerves have been very hardened by years of strenuous football! Whilst in Australia. he also did some broadcasting, and this may be a hint to the New Zealand authorities. Tangible Appreciation. In addition to presenting a 'cup for , the "Ashes" between New Zealand and Kngland, Mr. J. C. Gleeson, a pioneer League footballer, has decided to give . Parkin a special cup to mark New Zea- . land Rugby League appreciation of his record tour of performances in international football. Commenting on this matter prior to his departure South, Parkin said he recollected as a boy going to see the New Zealand team of 1907 play Wakefield. The famous "Dally" Messenger on that occasion kicked off by sending the ball clean over the bar, to the astonishment of spectators and opponents. The object of the long kick was, of course, to compel the Wakefield team to force and drop out to give the visitors possession. In this, said Parkin, they v succeeded, but the home team won the s game. "It has just dawned on me that Mr. Gleeson was one of the visitors n whose fine play I admired that day," concluded the English team's leader.