MAORI LEAGUE SIDE UNDER WRONG NAME

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31670, 4 May 1968, Page 15

MAORI LEAGUE SIDE UNDER WRONG NAME

The New Zealand Rugby League Council would appear to be exaggerating by applying the title “New Zealand” to the Maori team that will meet New South Wales Country at Auckland tomorrow.

Apart from three Waikato players and two from Taranaki, the 13 players and two reserves are all members of Auckland clubs.

It seems that Maori players in Wellington and the South Island were not considered because of financial reasons. The Southern zone representatives —R. Farrell (Wellington), M. H. Mohi, B. L. Williams and J. L. White (Canterbury) would have

challenged strongly for posi- i tions in a fully representative i Maori team.

The selectors appear to have named the team from players on the fringe of selection for Northern zone, although the centres, H. R. Sinel (Auckland) and W. White (Waikato), will meet the touring team twice in as many games after playing for the

zone team today. Sinel, who has twice toured Australia with Kiwi teams as a loose forward, has probably won inclusion to give him further experience in his new position. White has become a leading candidate for selection for the world championship series, and the selectors have paired him with Sinel

On several occasions this season. The council Is within its

rights in using the game as a trial for the world series, and instructing the selectors to name players with strong claims for national selection; but it would probably be more factual to bestow the title “Northern” rather than “New Zealand” on this Maori

team. The side is (Auckland unless stated): R. Bergham; D. Keys, Sinel. White, W. P. Soutborn (Taranaki); H. Waikai (Waikato), H. Knuckey (Taranaki); C. Smith; B. S. Lee (captain), R. Williams; 0. Danielson, D. Parkinson (Waikato), H. Tatana. Reserves: T. Brown, G. Manga.