Aust, interest in Cooksley

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 32

Aust, interest in Cooksley

(New Zealand Press Association) “The Press” Special Service The Sydney Rugby League Club, Manly-Warringah, has set its sights on obtaining the services of the New Zealand World Cup scrum-half, G. R. Cooksley (Canterbury), but only if it cannot sign the former English player, G. Williams,

Williams, now playing for North Sydney, has been negotiating to join Manly - Warringah, but agreement yet has to be reached. The dead-line for transfer in New South Wales is June 30.

“We cannot afford to wait any longer,” the ManlyWarringah secretary (Mr K. Arthurson) said yesterday. “I will fly to New Zealand in an effort to get Cooksley if something doesn’t happen with Williams by tonight” Cooksley, who will play for the New Zealand XIII against Australia at Huntly this afternoon, would cost Manly-Warringah a transfer fee of $6OOO if he decided to join the club. This is the agreed amount between the Australian and New Zealand Rugby Leagues for a test player. Manly-Warringah has expressed its willingness to pay a fee of $BOOO to North Sydney for Williams. Two years ago Cooksley declined an offer from another Sydney club, Canter-bury-Bankstown. LATE ADDITION The Wellington wing, J. A. Whittaker, yesterday temporarily left the New Zealand squad which is training in Auckland for the test against the Kangaroos on Saturday to stand by in case E. Wulf (Auckland) is not able to play for the New Zealand XIII.

Wulf injured a leg muscle during the practice game with Waikato on Sunday. The New Zealand XIII coach (Mr

T. H. Hardwick) said that he felt it was unfair to expect his back-line to be reshuffled into unaccustomed positions because the reserve, D. Sorenson (Auckland), is an inside back. Whittaker, the test reserve and a World Cup three-quarters, then was called in. MUST IMPROVE Two southern members of the New Zealand XIII, Cooksley and G. C. Ladner (West Coast), did little to enhance their prospects of regaining their places in the national side against Waikato on Sunday, according to “The Press" Special Service. Ladner, whose reputation has been based largely on his goal-kicking ability, suffered the indignity of being replaced as kicker by W. G. Deacon (Waikato). Up to this Kint, in the first half, Ladner d been given four shots at goal and had missed them all. Ladner had complained of not feeling well when his team had gathered earlier in the day, and had eaten no lunch. His general play reflected the listlessness which be still felt.

Although he made a handful of good breaks down the centre, Cooksley was inclined to expend a disproportionate

amount of energy running across the field with the ball, to little apparent effect In addition, more of his passes than one would expect from a recent test player were inaccurate or too low.

Both men well might take note of a warning from their manager, Mr W. L. O’Callaghan, before the side assembled.

The players chosen to meet the Australians—either for the New Zealand XIII or in the test—would be most unwise to assume that they could expect to be among the

26 to tour Britain and France later this year, said Mr O’Callaghan, who is also one of the two managers appointed to travel. CONFIDENT The Australian coach (Mr H. Bath) told journalists at Sydney's international airport before the team left for New Zealand yesterday that he expected the Kiwis to field a stronger team for the test than the one Australia beat in England, the New Zealand Press Association reported. “But there is no doubt about the outcome,” he said. “We have a very fit team. The side has many young players and this tour will do them the world of good.”