PARKIN SPEAKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 10

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 on this trip he was, according to team associates here, more brilliant than ever in his career

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. Ho has crammed a wealth of life into his 33 summers.

Long Playing Career. Parkin started his. footballing at the age of 10 years, when he represented his school district as a forward. At thirteen bo was playing stand-off half in the "under 10" grade. Three years later he was playing five-eighths in the juniors under 21 years for North Featherston. On going to Wakefield he was signed up that year by the club, and received .4-5 to play in the match with the reserve team. The following week he, was placed in the first senior team, and lie has never been oil' the first team register except through injuries received on tho field. Like the proverbial Christmas tree, he has had everything, including leg, rib and nose smashes. It is fair to gay that, despite accidents, his nasal organ still carries the bridge of ambition. Selected as fly half for the 15)20 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 game against Auckland that year, when he scored a number of tries.

Mutton Birds and Oysters. Coming to the Dominion in 1924 Parkin and Sullivan developed septic throats after tho team had severely beaten Auckland. When the first Test was played in Auckland, which resulted in a win for Xew Zealand, the two players mentioned were still in a nursing home. They were unable to play when England lost tho next Test, but were right in time for the third Test (won by England), 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 our mutch in Otago was the direct inspiration for tho starting of the game down iu the southern part of New Zealand,'"' ;-;iys Parkin, who adds, "and we can assure you that that is why we arc 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, I understand, we are j to play a special exhibition match against New Zealand at Invercargill, which, besides being the largest southernmost town in the world, was the first place to play the League game in New Zealand. I have also frequently told the boys about the mutton birds and ilie oysters that are produced down that way. We will all be going there for the first time "

Hopes to Play in South, In tlie course of further conversation Parkin said that his thumb, which had been broken badly twice on this tour, was now oil the mend. "However,"' he added, "I am goinjr to make a special effort to take my place on the Held in ilu: South, and. if I can manage it, I will play at Dunediii. If not, it will take a uood deal to prevent me appearing at hivercarjrill. ] want to be able to enhance, my record by being able to say T played against New Zealand in the very southernmost largo town of the Kmpire. We are all looking forward to this feature of a meat tour

Keen to Win Tests. ; "The two Tests ahead arc giving us j something to think about,"' said the oxporicnml captain. '"Some people seem I to think We will will easily. Wt; lire not I at all sure about that. The standard of : Ilujrby League is very much ItigLvr than , wJiat we were led to believe to Australia, j It is certainly on a, higher ]>lane than when wo were last here. It is all very well for people on the sideline to say this and that, but our players are tar the better judges as to the merits of the opposition, especially after the (ir.st few games. They have l>een very iouo-ht battles, and we have had to }>hty all out to win. The team is to take no chances, because we want to avenge the Test losses we suffered when here in 1024. If wo possibly can be intend to succeed. If you do beat us we will be the iirst to extend congratulations. Our men aro big fellows who play hard and clean. Some players on either side in big play are. apt to lose tempers. Hut it is a man's game iu which players have to give and take the knocks. Still, the first essential is clean play." At Sydney Parkin was invited to the aerodrome, and had his baptUm in aeronautics. Later be went up again with Captain Mitchell in a 'plane whi'-h carried out a. series of stunts. Asked bow he liked tin- experience .Parkin replied: "I didn't get a thrill.Apparently Lis nerves have boon very hardened by years of strenuous football! Whilst in Australia, iie al-o did sonic broadcasting, and this may lie a hint to the Xew Zealand ; authorities. Tangible Appreciation. In addition to' presenting a cup for tlie "Aslies" between Xew Zealand and England, Mr. J. C. Gleesrin, a pioneer League footballer, has decided to give Parkin a special cup to mark New Zealand Rugby League appreciation of his record tour of performances in international football. Commenting on this matter prior to his departure South, Parkin said ho recollected as a boy going to see the Xew Zealand team of 1907 play Wakefield. The famous 'Dally" Messenger on that occasion kicked off by sending the ball clean over the bar, to tlie 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 i posse-sion. In this, said Parkin, they succeeded, but the home team won the game. "It has just dawned on me that Mr. Gleeoon was one of the visitors whose fine play I admired that day." concluded the English team's leader.