COOKE ON WARPATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 173, 24 July 1935, Page 19

COOKE ON WARPATH.

"LEAGUE BETTER THAN RUGBY ,

VIEWS OF FAMOUS PLAYER.

N.Z. 1935 BACKS LACK DEFENCE

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

MASTERTON, this day

Speaking at a social function given by a representative gathering of past and present Wairarapa representative footballers at Maeterton, A. E. Cooke, the ex-All Black, eaid that as far as he could eee the present would be his last football season. After that he would probably be wandering about in plus fours, carrying a bag of golf clubs. He stated that there was little chance ot his return to Rugby, even should he not retire. There was no truth in rumours that he had been offered a large sum to play for a. Sydney League side. Most of the rumours about large sums in connection with League were pure imagination. The majority of League players up North were purely amateur. Clubs received gate percentages according to their drawing ability and their success in reaching No. 1 ground. His club, Richmond, had a credit balance of about £900 besides owning a full-sized, electrically lighted football ground for training. Host of their training was done outside, not in gymnasiums. The League code was still drawing thousands in Auckland where Rugby drew hundreds. There wae no doubt which game the Northerners would sooner watch. League was faster, cleaner and a more brainy game altogether, but players required to be very fit. Nevertheless, he did not anticipate that League would make as great progress elsewhere as in Auckland. Asked hie opinion of the 1935 All Blacks eelection, he said it was hardly a fair question for a League player. However, knowing most of the players and their ability, he thought they would mould into quite a decent side, but in the light of his experiences with the 1924 All Blacks it made him wonder what may happen with some of the backs who were known as fine-weather attacking players, with little defence to equip themselves for the continually sodden fields to be met with on the British tour.

In answer to a further inquiry he admitted a little surprise at the half-back selections.