Big season for Maori Rugby league players

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33790, 12 March 1975, Page 12

Big season for Maori Rugby league players

(By

JOHN COFFEY)

Included in the very full programme mapped out by the New Zealand Rugby League for the coming season are a number of fixtures which should greatly increase the opportunities for Maori players to develop their abilities and gain overseas experience.

A national Maori squad will travel to Port Moresby to take pan in the first Pacific Cup tournament in May. It will be opposed by Papua New Guinea. Victoria and Western Australia in round-robin matches, and two grand finalists to plat' off on May 11.

Maori teams have played on the mainland of Australia in the past. The 1908 tourists had the legendarv brothers, “Opal" and Ernie Asher, in their ranks, the then powerful Queensland state XIII was beaten bv the 1922 Maoris and the 1956 side had the internationals, Andy Berrvman, George Turner, Keith’ Roberts, Bill Sorensen. Keith Bell. Joe Ratima and Henry Maxwell.

The trials for the selection of the side to challenge for the Pacific Cup '■ill be held at Ngaruawahia. near Huntlv. ovpr Faster week-end.’ The Canterbury Maori board of

control hopes to arrange a trial of its own, with a member of the New Zealand Maori panel in attendance. later this month.

On the basis of the outstanding performance given by the Maoris against Great Britain at Rotorua last year, there is a strong chance that the Pacific Cup will be brought back to this country. Rugby league has a very enthusiastic following in Papua New Guinea, though, and Western Australia and Victoria have worked hard to improve their standards in recent years.

A tempering factor when considering the winning prospects of the Maoris is the national council’s ruling that probable New Zealand representatives — required for the Kiwi trials on May I and 3 and the short tour of Australia — cannot be considered. Dennis Williams, Dave Sorensen, Peter Gurnick, Lindsay Proctor (all Auckland), Eddie Kerrigan (Canterbury) and possibly Josh Liavaa (Auckland) will come into this category. The 1974 captain. Bill Burgoyne. is having trials with a Sydney club. However, there are many Maori or Island players who have been prominent in the premier grade in Auckland, most of the members of the champion Petone club in Wellington would be eligible and two forwards who made their debut for Canterbury last year, Mutu Stone’ and Stewart Hogg, should be worthy of trial selection at least.

On Anzac Day, April 25, the New Zealand Maoris will play the Auckland Pakehas at Carlaw Park. This • annual game (although usually confined to Auck- ' land Maoris) has long been ' regarded as the final trial ; for the Auckland squad, and will this time give the Maoris a Valuable prepara-

tion before their departure for Port Moresby. Towards the end of the season the Canterbury Maoris will meet the Pakehas in another match planned to serve two purposes. As well as deciding the holder of the R. T. Pomare Cup — the Pakehas held out for a 15-15 draw to retain the trophy last year — it is likely to be played in Blenheim as a promotional assistance to the fledgling Marlborough Rugby League.