Kiwis available for Canterbury matches

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 46

Kiwis available for Canterbury matches

(By

JOHN COFFEY)

Ihe experience and skills accumulated by ayne Robertson. Bob Jarvis, and Murray \\ right during their careers as Auckland and New Zealand rugby league representatives \sill be available to the Canterbury team later this season.

Robertson confirmed this yesterday, with the proviso, that the Canterbury board of! control repeats its offer of! making a grant to the Hornby club to assist with the transfer fees recently imposed by the code’s national council. The former Auckland trio withdrew from contention fori the Amco Cup fixture against Brisbane Eastern Suburbs; next Wednesday. Robertson because he did not wish to; travel and because of his coaching commitments, and Jarvis and Wright as a reluctance to sign overseas tour agreements. But earlier this week the three, combining almost as a team within a team, were largely responsible for a Canterbury second XIII beating the Amco Cup squad. 2115. In doing so, they exposed some glaring deficiencies in the style of their opponents.

“Bob and Murray are definite starters for future Canterbury matches when there are no contracts to sign, and I will be in the same position if there is no clash with club games,” Robertson said.

“What Canterbury needs most are a couple of leaders.; There has been no ball dis-l tributor in sight throughout; the trials, and the players are not running on to the passes. I would like to give them a hand, especially if the Rothmans final is against Auckland,” he said. If the administration agrees to making a grant of $lOOO towards the $3OOO transfer payment, the Hornby recruits would probably make their debut against Wellington at Wellington on May 1— although an Amco Cup victory might persuade the selectors to retain their team in preparation for its secondround match.

Only one of Canterbury’s other fixtures —with West Coast at Greymouth in July —would divide Robertson’s loyalties between province and club, and he said that he was unlikely to be available for that game. Traditionally, matches at Greymouth are on Sundays, and Canterbury’s players are ineligible for the club round the previous day. There would be no such problem " when Canterbury has a home draw in the southern final of the Rothmans contest on August 8, and success would automatically give it. a grand final place on September 22, with the Show Grounds again being the venue.. Robertson said that the Canterbury camp should not be too despondent about its loss last Wednesday evening.'

“The top Brisbane clubs are about of the same standard as those in Auckland, and it follows that our representative teams should be able to beat them. 1 think Canterbury could win comfortably if it performs well, and still stay in front even if it does not play particularly well.” Robertson said. He is well qualified to comment. having spent a season with Northern Suburbs in Brisbane and being included

sin that city’s representative' I squad when only 19. Leadership was the one fac-.i J tor lacking in Canterbury, and J 'without it the whole clubli competition was weakened.(l Robertson said. "There are;l enough youngsters who fast, keen, fit and willing to[| ■ jtackle, but there seems to < [be no-one to guide them. i:

“Getting the right attitude is very important. The gamis not professional or serious enough in outlook, there is Too much casualness." For this reason Robertson ts cot fident that Hornby will emerge from the qualifying round as a side capable of heating last season's grand finalists, Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs and Papanui.