BACK FROM WIGAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 153, 1 July 1929, Page 8

BACK FROM WIGAN.

LOU BROWN, FIT AND WELL. GLAD TO BE IN AUCKLAND. GEEAT SEASON IN ENGLAND. Keenly athletic and brimful of enthusiam, Lou Brown, the Aucklander, who has'made a name for himself on the football fields of England, returned home this morning by the Makura. "It's great to be in Auckland again," he said, "if only for a fortnight, and I am looking forward to renewing acquaintance with

many friends." In Sydney, Brown went to the Sydney sports ground and saw the Rugby Union All Blacks training for their match last Saturday. He had a chat with McWilliams and Hook.

"I am pleased to hear that other New Zealanders are to tried out in England, and I hope, for the good of the game and for themselves, that they will make good. Butt, Hargrave and Hall, I am informed, are going to the St. Helens Club, which is a good little rising popular club. It was about eighth—or tenth— on the championship table. Falwasser's Position. "As far as I know Falwasser is not taking anybody's place in the Wigan team. He is probably being taken as a spare hand, and will have to prove himself. That is why I think he would have been wise to have tried himself out in the faster League play before he went abroad. lam firmly convinced now that a young man who has the talent and desire should take on the League code, which develops the individual skill. However, you want to realise that conditions are vastly different from those that obtain in New Zealand. The climate and living are big factors, and a player has to get used to these things before he can show his best. I. had the advantage of a try-out in 1923, and found it gruelling. However, after my visit with the New Zealand League All Blacks, my return to play and form was made easier. In England they pay strict attention to training. Hail, rain or snow we go out, with three sets of jerseys and pants, and practice hard for hours at a time. I can tell you it makes a man who has the stamina and grit a real player under all conditions. .

Demand for Oversea Players. "New Zealand footballers are held in high esteem. I cannot say that English clubs are deliberately seeking men from this country. I thought Prentice, of Richmond, may have been given a chance to go to England before now, because they speak so highly of him over there. Wigan, Leeds, Huddersfield and, Swmton are among the clubs that require the finished players, but other clubs are more inclined to take on men not quite matured. Not so many men are now obtained from Scotland and Wales. Tribute to Wearing. Speaking iof Australian players _he knew, Brown expressed a great admiration for Wearing, the flying wing threequarter, and hopes he will be included in the Kangaroos for the trip now commencing. "In view of the spectacular cranie Australia features, I think he would be a notable. asquisition," said Lou. "As far as I am. concerned, he is the finest winger I have ever pliyed against and there are few in England, in my experience, who approach him. At present I should say the fastest winger in the English League is Ellaby, of St. Helen's, who came to New Zealand with the Britishers last time. . Ring, of Wigan, is also a good man." He added that a dashing three-quarter in England had to have a strong fend. Good News by Letter. In conversation Brown referred for the first time' to the injury which caused him to miss altogether thirteen matches and prevented him from beating the best English scoring record.

Whilst a "Star" man was present, Lou Brown opened a letter from England and did a terpsichorean skip of delight to know that Mills (threequarter for Huddersfield), who played in uncompleted fixtures after he (Brown) had left England, had not surpassed him on the scoring table. Mills equalled Brown with 44 fries for the season. "I thought, when I saw Rangitoto this morning what hard luck it was that, after missing those games through injury, Mills might yet heat me, but he hasn't," declared Lou, still bubbling with excitement. The letter revealed that in the Bugby League final between Huddersfield and Leeds, at Leeds, the former won by a goal (two points) to nil. Wigan sacrificed their chances of winning that final in order to win the cup at Wembley. "It was a big sacrifice, too," said Brown, "but we had to concentrate on living up to reputation as being the fastest Rugby team that had played at Wembley, which Sullivan had' announced.

During his trip from England, Lou Brown made many friends on the boat. He kept up his training. He is due back in England for the season opening on August 31.