MANUKAU LEAGUE TEAM SEARCHES FOR HALF-BACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 199, 23 August 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

MANUKAU LEAGUE TEAM SEARCHES FOR HALF-BACK

Perhaps in jest, and not in earnest, it has been said that the Manukau Rugby League team, in Auckland, can claim the North Island as a nursery when it comes to searching for new talent. It has had in its ranks in the past some of the leading Maori players of New Zealand, including George Nepia, ? and the team of the present season has some players of undoubted class. One of the Manukau troubles this season, despite the fact that Manukau has climbed high on the Auckland Rugby League ladder, has been the filling of one of the most vital positions—that of half-back. When Manukau made a dramatic entry in Auckland League football in the 1936 season, it had for the position Peter Mahima, a sturdy halfback who learned his football in the Waiuku district. Without rising to brilliant heights, Mahima was eminently sound in method, courageous in defence and served his side well. Last year Mahima was still available, and in addition there came to the side W. Panapa, a half-back who had represented the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union at Rugby football. However, with Mahima in the team Panapa, who showed undeniable Rugby skill, had to be played in an outside position. This season Manukau had to start without Mahima or Panapa, and the early choice was Oliver, who had previously played with the Newton League team. When Oliver went to camp Manukau had to begin another search. A recent choice was W. Major, a young half-back from Port Waikato, while for occasion^ 1 matches substitutes have been W. Shilton, one of the best forwards in the game, and T. Chase, who has the versatility to play in any position in the backs. And now Manukau has gathered in another half-back, a recruit from JJawke's Bay. The newcomer is Kingi Newton, who has been playing with the Maori Agriculture College team, where Nepia and Falwasser learned much of their early football. He was given a trial run last Saturday when Manukau temporarily forgot that it was a League team and, as the Tamaki Rugby team, paid a visit to Te Kohanga, near waikato Heads, to assist Princess Te Puea in raising patriotic funds. In a friendly game Tamaki won by the wide margin of 37 points •<q 6, and as the match was a big

attraction the patriotic funds benefited to the extent of £56. Jack Hemi—back in Rugby for one day— captained the team, Steve Watene was a great leader of the forwards, and Jack Broderick, the great forward of the Maori team which went to Australia in the 1935 season, played his first match of the present season. N Te Kohanga lived up to its reputation for hospitality and the mid-day menu included turkey and fowl, succulent eel from the Waikato River and delectable whitebait. Yet Tamaki played a great game. The football critics viewed Kingi Newton closely. He is a pocket Hercules in type, sft 6in in height and weighs 14st. He defended well and shot sharp passes away from the base of the scrum. He kicked direct into touch, but Els it was a Rugby game that did not matter much. There were hopes that Manukau had solved its half-back problem, at least for the time being.