Rugby League Supremacy Shifting From Auckland

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30802, 14 July 1965, Page 13

Rugby League Supremacy Shifting From Auckland

r rHE last two or three years have seen a great change in the respective strengths of New Zealand Rugby League provinces. For the first time in 15 years Auckland, while still numerically the strongest province, does not rule unchallenged. Wellington, West Coast, and Waikato have improved tremendously and, while it

has shown nothing of the form that led it to victory over Auckland in 1962, Canterbury has raised its standard of play. This change in the balance of power can do nothing but good for the code in this country. Perhaps the outstanding feature of the representative season so far is. the great improvement of Wellington’s performances. It won both the quadrangular Rothmans tournaments, not because of any falling off of the other provinces’ standard but because it has suddenly produced a group of very good players.

The guidance of the Wellington chairman (Mr K. H. English) and his representative coaches. Messrs J. J. Campbell and 0. W. Butt, has done much to- improve the representative team. The captaincy of the courageous full-back. W. R. Harrison, who tackled and tackled until be knocked himself out

in the match against Australia, has given the younger players inspiration. C. E. O’Neil, at 22, became New Zealand’s second youngest post-war' hooker and is undoubtedly the outstanding player in what is a very strong provincial combination. The Strong brothers —Robin and Geoffrey—form an attacking centre combination and both have been New Zealand trialists. Yet they came straight from senior reserve football. Their parents founded the Waiwhetu club, which has no senior team, and the boys have stayed loyal to the club. One of the discoveries of the season was the wing, J. T. Lafrentz, who scored nine tries in his first four matches. In the forwards there is the former West Coast utility back, G. Smith, who has since moved to the second row where his 6ft 3in, 15st 71b frame is very useful. Smith is a dangerous runner and is capab’e of kicking goals from half-way. Another Kiwi trialist, R. Farrell, is his second row partner and together they form an effective combination.

O’Neil’s props are the 17st N. Beri and the 15st G. B. Heperi, both capable goalkickers. The title of number two province will probably be decided when Wellington meets West Coast at Greymouth on August 1. On present form West Coast will be very difficult to keep in check. Its 21-7 defeat Of Canterbury on Sunday was well deserved and its pack is probably the strongest in the country. A. P. Dennehy, J. K. Dixon and R. O. Scholefield played grand football, both individually and together. The partnership between Dixon and Dennehy could

well become as great as that between C. J. Mcßride and K. G. Mulcare just after the war.

The other forwards all do their work admirably. C. L. McMaster, who has had little, luck with the selectors in the last two years, and J. F. Hibbs—another bright prospect—can adapt themselves to the tight and are fairly fast in possession, and F. Kennedy is a capable hooker, although not in O’Neil’s class.

The back-line is guided by G. M. Kennedy and has two outstanding young centres, W. Johnsen (only 18) and L. P. Brown (20). Johnsen has developed

quickly and his defence against Canterbury and Australia was magnificent. He and Brown are evasive runners and it is unfortunate that the latter’s career has been hindered by injury and illness.

B. J. Mann could well be the number two full-back on tour and B. Sweetman, who is injured at present, and N. Kiely, whose career has also been checked by injuries, are nippy halves. Waikato has a tough pack with J. Puke, S. Alder and W. Deacon having good sea-

sons. D. Parkinson is a capable hooker and j very effective kicker up to 55 yards.

But it is the back-line, as yet inexperienced, that raises most excitement. The 18-year-old centre, W. Whyte, could well develop into a champion for in his first representative season he became a Kiwi trialist. As with the other two provinces there is a Kiwi to guide the backs. In Waikato’s case it is the scrumhalf, G. S. Farrar, who toured Britain in 1961 after making his test debut against Australia. The 21-year-old full-back, J. Rutene, the wings, Wl Paki (only 19), and the 1964 .North Island utility back. E. Burke (22), are full of promise.

The average age of the Waikato team that lost to Australia was only 22 years. With a potentially champion team, and no other code at Huntly. the game can only grow in Waikato. Canterbury’s greatest prospect is the South Island hooker, W. P. Noonan, another 18-year-old. Noonan has supreme confidence and great enthusiasm. If he continues to develop as he has done during the last two years then Canterbury will surely have its best hooker since the war.