N.Z. League Still Has Full-Back Problem

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 13

N.Z. League Still Has Full-Back Problem

CIMCI the retirement of * DJH. White (Auckland) ta 1956 the New Zealand Ru<by League team has wen Plagued with a fullback problem. Until thia year it was the problem et finding a full-beck, but the recent tour of Australia brought up another problem—who to leave out

White was undoubtedly New Zealand’s greatest Rugby League full-back. He scored 467 point* for New Zealand in 81 matches, including 21 testa. The points were made up of 223 goals and seven tries. He set a new world record by kicking 11 goals in the second test of the 1952 Australian tour—a record that stlH remains unbeaten. Altogether be kicked 18 goals in the series, only three behind the record held by B. L. Jones of Great Britain who in 1956-57, kicked 21 goals in • series against France. The following season, also against France. B. Genley (Great Britain) kicked 19 goals to better White's former world record also.

The post-White period left New Zealand without any really good full-back until 1959. During this period C. Eastlake, the Auckland centre, was tried in the number one Jersey but the experiment was not a great success. In 1959 G. R. Phillips was selected to tour Australia, apparently as under-study to Eastlake. Phillips, however, had no Intention of being understudy to anyone and his success was beyond all expectations. Usually-crH-ical Australia press claimed him the best to tour that country since the war. His great attacking ability made him the danger man of the backs. Phillips was selected for all three tests and it seemed that New Zealand’s full-back problem had been solved. The following year Phillips played in two of the World Cup matches in England and he continued to mature. On his return to New Zealand he played in both tests against the 1961 Australian tourists. In the

first test he enjoyed his most memorable moment The score was 10-10 with only a few minutes left before no-side was to be called when Phillips scooped up a loose ball and potted a goal out of the Carlaw Park mud to give New Zealand a slender twopoint victory. It was then that Phillips’s career took a backward step. Along with W. Harrison (Wellington) he had been selected for the fullback position for the 196162 Kiwi tour of Great Britain and France. Phillips, with several other players, withdrew and his place was taken by J. E. Fagan.

On tour Fagan registered 123 points and played in four of the six tests. Harrison played in one against Great Britain and one against France. On tour, Fagan's kicking improved tremendously and it was evident that he would be a threat to Phillips.

When Great Britain toured in 1962, however, A. Smith (Canterbury) was selected for the first test. At that time Smith was the best goal-kicker in New Zealand and he had outplayed Fagan in the interisland match at Christchurch. In the test, however Smith was not a great success, and Fagan was recalled for the second encounter. This season Phillips, after having a cartilage removed, came back to be selected, with Fagan, for the Australian tour. He was selected for the first test after four very good matches, in which he had scored 42 points. Unfortunately he was injured soon after and Fagan took his place for the second test.

Phillips was given a run against Central Queensland the day after the second test but had to be carried from the field and sent back to Sydney to see a specialist. His injured leg did not respond to treatment and he had to return to Auckland for an operation, leaving the door open to Fagan to play in the third test. Who is the better of the two? Their style of play is different. Phillips is a dashing, attacking type of player, while Fagan seldom comes into the backline, content to stop any opposition movements. As a goal-kicker they are each other’s equal. Both are accurate up to 45 yards. Phillips has now played in eight tests, Fagan in seven but unless Phillips's leg responds to treatment, it is difficult to say which of the two is the superior player.