League search for goal-kicker

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 24

League search for goal-kicker

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

The outstanding goalkicking form of the Kiwi prop, H. Tatana (Auckland) , has largely compensated for the withdrawal of the West Coast full-back, G. C. Ladner, from the New Zealand Rugby league tour of Britain and France. But, while Tatana’s emergence as a front row forward and'goal-kicker of international standing has been an unexpected bonus, the national selectors will probably be seeking two other players to share the conversion and penalty attempts on tour when the final trials are held at Auckland on Saturday. Tatana earned a tour posi-

tion with a rousing performance and six goals from seven attempts in the test against Australia in June. He did not conform to the accepted pattern of a forwardkicker becoming weary towards the end of a match just before the finish he converted J. A. Whittaker’s second try from near the sideline in the wettest area of Carlaw Park. In Australia in 1967, Tatana was given only 10 chances to kick for goal. He had a promising analysis of only two failures from seven attempts against Western New South Wales, but he was unsuccessful twice at Newcastle and once in the state fixture at Sydney. Two other forwards who are again candidates for inclusion, W. G. Deacon (Wai-

kato) and G. M. J. Smith (Wellington), were virtually ignored in Australia four years ago. Deacon goaledi once (and missed twice)' against Central Queensland ■ and Smith lacked direction I with his only kick in the Riverina game. They have done little kicking in first-class football over recent seasons, playing in the shadows of their provincial team-mates, D. Parkinson (Waikato) and F. E. Rasmussen (Wellington), but it is of interest that Deacon contributed 10 goals when Lamer was injured during the short World Cup tour last October. A more likely choice as the second-string kicker with Deacon relegated to third and Smith doing no more than stand by in case of emergency would be the Auckland and

World Cup utility back, L. N. Graham.

Graham’s kicking was most (disappointing in England and (France after the cup toumarnent but, like Tatana, he has (improved his accuracy and length and is among the leading individual points-scorers in the Auckland club championship this season. It will be interesting to note whether Graham or E. D. Wiggs (Auckland) is given the goal-kicking responsibibilities for the Red .XIII in the early trial. As a prop, Wiggs would rank about seventh among the contenders for the four tour positions but his scoring prowess is not doubted.

The top scorer for Auckland in all representative fixtures 170 points (four tries, 179 goals) in 20 appearances—

Wiggs also provided 43 points (one try, 20 goals) in five tests for New Zealand between 1964 and 1968. His tour prospects hinge almost wholly on the power of his kicking. The Southern Zone fullback, M. W. J. O’Donnell (Canterbury), returned fairly satisfactory figures in his initial provincial season but he, and W. P. Southern (Taranaki), are among the outsiders to win selection. Southern, now In the forwards after a brief test career as a wing, recently scored seven tries and converted each of them during the second half of a club game. With Tatana the obvious first choice, Graham and Deacon are favoured as the other goal-kickers to be included in the 26 man squad.