Memorable season

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32164, 6 December 1969, Page 11

Memorable season

HPHE announcement by the New Zealand Rugby League that Colin O'Neil had been selected as the code’s first official “player of the year” rounded off a memorable year for the Wellington and Kiwi hooker and captain. During the season O’Neil ted i Southern Zone to its win over its northern counterpart and captained the Kiwis to their first test win in four seasons in the second test against Australia. He played notable individual roles in these victories with his brilliant hooking ability and studied ball distribution. These triumphs, and O’Neil’s’ loyalty to Ms club —Wellington Marist—and province and his voluntary coaching of junior players, contributed largely to his selection as Wellington’s

first “Sportsman of the year,” a boost to a code that has often languished in that city. O’Neil's rating as the fastest striker of the ball in international Rugby league has not been made suddenly. Since his test debut against Australia in 1965 O’Neil has matched, and often beaten, the world’s most proficient bookers, but Ms full potential was seldom fulfilled because he was playing in a beaten pack. In the early stages of his firat-ctass career O’Neil’s general play was often severely criticised as being too slow and cumbersome, even lacking in purpose- and he had the nick-name “Sleepy Fox” bestowed upon him. Experience and coaching successfully combined to

lift tine standard of his allround game to that of a fully qualified international. His play during the 1967. Australian tour far surpassed his performances in Britain and France two years earlier and opponents now regard Mm as more “foxy” than “sleepy.” O’Neil, 27, has now played in 33 matches for New Zealand, including 14 tests. The only occasion be test Ms test position was during 1965 when the more experienced W. T. Schultz (Auckland, now playing with Eastern Suburbs in Sydney) appeared in two internationals against Britain and two in France. ,

The wave of success that O'Neil has ridden so modestly this year indicates that he will continue to lead 1 the Kiwis for some seasons Ito come.