Broadhurst's progress unlikely to halt at provincial level

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 4

Broadhurst's progress unlikely to halt at provincial level

(By

JOHN COFFEY)

Mark Broadhurst, the young Papanui Rugby league second-row forward, has already made a marked impression in his first representative season and will have a further opportunity to emphasise his potential when he packs down against Wellington at the Show Grounds on Monday. ' The Canterubry coach, Mr Gary Clarke, is one of many experienced observers who are confident that Broadhurst's progress will net end at provincial level, y“I think that he has a great footballing future ahead of him. I do not believe in bringing up a player at too young an age, but Broadhurst is now gaining the necessary experience. He already has the height and next season he will be more solid and should go even further,” Mr Clarke said. ■ It has not only been Broadhurst's playing ability that has satisfied Mr Clarke. He also had praise for the keenness shown by Broadhurst in training and match discussions — “he is prepared to listen to improve himself. Any coach would be happy with 13 Broadhursts.” . The assistance given Broadhurst by his Papanui captain-coach. Rod Walker, was mentioned by Mr Clarke, alth he noted that Broadhurst has developed to the stage where he is relying less on Walker to set up attacking chances and beginning to make his own breaks past opposing defences. This was especially evident when Broadhurst carried out the groundwork for Papanui’s opening try against Sydenham at the Show Grounds last Saturday.' His powerful running action, so effective on the firm playing surfaces this year, carried him past attempted tackles before he linked with his outside backs, Gary Taie and Russell Seaward, to force an over-lap. With this one devastating burst, Broadhurst pu| Papanui firmly in summand and on the path to a 45-7 victory Sydenham, having made a promising beginning in its bid to join Papanui at the top of the premiership table, slumped from that point and never recovered.

Broadhurst, who turned 20 last month, has fashioned a reasonable try-scoring record himself. In only his second season, he has an aggregate of 11 touchdowns in premier football and he also crossed for

tries in his first two games foi Canterbury, against Wellington and Taranaki, this year. The skill of Walker in placing team-mates into gaps has allowed Broadhurst to give full rein to his penetrative instincts, just as Walker was the guiding hand behind the success enjoyed by Alan Sarjeant for Papanui before his transfer to Auckland. Broadhurst has been more than a willing pupil and the combination can be expected to trouble other clubs for many seasons to come.

Rugby league has long been a major interest in the Broadhurst household. Mark Broadhurst's father, Ray, was a second-row forward for South Island against the 1953 Australians and Mark’s older brother, Rex, is now coaching and occasionally playing for a Papanui lower grade team after having his career impeded by a head injury. A frequent New Zealand representative at schoolboy and intermediate tournaments, Mark Broadhurst was a member of the Canterbury 19-years squad which travelled to New South Wales last September. Australian scouts, ever on the lookout for talent, did not take long to make enquiries about him. “He was one of three players — the others were Dean Harris and Kerry Blazey — who interested officials of the Penrith club,” the manager of that team, Mr D. J. Alsop, said. He added that to put the scouts off the scent he had told them that the young tourists were contracted for three years. “Broadhurst and Gerard Stokes were the anchor men of that side, and two of the nicest guys you could have in a squad. The more solid the football the better Broadhurst liked it and he was really outstanding on the hard grounds,” Mr Alsop said. On Monday Broadhurst,

in his fourth firstclass appearance, will come up against the veteran Englishman, Neil Fox, who is spending three months with the Marist club in Wellington. Fox, with a background of more than 700 professional club and international games, will provide a .severe test for the Canterbury forward, but Broadhurst has displayed sufficient maturity to suggest he will be equal to the assignment.

It was of some regret that Broadhurst was not given a national trial before the selection of the Kiwi side at present in Australia, particularly

when John Wright (Auckland), Ray Baxendale (West Coast) and Graeme West (Taranaki) — all about the same age — had the opportunity to gain places in the 23-man New Zealand party. Certainly, Broadhurst would not have been out of his depth alongside these other very capable players. He will no doubt follow his father into the international arena by being chosen for Canterbury against Wales on the evening of June 24, just another step up the ladder towards his ultimate aim of wearing the Kiwi jersey.