Strong-running Franklin man for all positions

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 20

Strong-running Franklin man for all positions

Bv

JOHN COFFEY

Kevin Franklin, the strapping young rugby league player who has made a major contribution towards the rise of Mar-ist-Western Suburbs on

the Canterbury club premiership table, has a happy habit of performing with distinction when switched to comparatively unfamiliar positions. For most of his schoolboy days with Cobden-Ko-hinoor on the West Coast, Franklin was a stand-off half, but that provinces selectors in the national 15 years tournament grade decided that his formidable physique could be put to greater effect in the second-row.

They were given no reason for regret. Franklin was quite outstanding with his combination of strength and speed and he toured New South Wales with the New Zealand schoolboy Kiwi side. Twelve months later, in 1971. he went one step better by not only earning a second national junior jersey but by also being chosen as the "player of the tournament.”

New Zealand honours in the 17 years and 19 years grades were to follow as Franklin more than

matched skills with such fine contemporaries as Dane and Kun Sorensen, John Smith. Ray Baxendale, Barry Edkins, Olsen Filipaina. Fred Au Kuoi and Steve Mcgregor. Even before he graduated from the intermediate divisions, Franklin had been promoted to the West Coast representative team, rubbing shoulder pads with the free-running internationals, Tony Coll and Baxendale. His debut was at 18 years of age in 1974, coinciding with an inter-club transfer to the powerful Greymouth Marist combination.

It seemed, then, that if Franklin was to advance further in the code it would be in his adopted role of forward, and, gradually, observers came to regard him as a specialist second-rower who occasionally moved up to prop when required. Some had longer memo-

ries. though, and Franklin was placed on the wing in the Marist XIII which challenged Papanui for the Thacker Shield two years ago. From the first play-the-ball of the game, Franklin surged away for a memorable try and it was not until the final minute that Papanui ensured itself of retaining the trophy and, with it, the South Island club championship title. Last winer, Franklin’s versatility was much to Marist’s advantage and he was a centre in the loss to Runanga which decided the West Coast club series. Canterbury might well benefit, for Franklin will again be opposed by the Runanga midfield pair, Chris Menzies and Bernard Green, in the Rothmans interprovincial fixture at the Show Grounds on Saturday. "I really did not mind alternating between centre, second-row and prop — it was just a matter of playing football from the position in which I was put,” Franklin said earlier this w-eek, when reviewing his last season in his home province. It was after that brief refresher course in backline responsibilities that Franklin arrived in Christchurch on an employment transfer a few months ago. There was some speculation as to which club would gain his services, and he eventually joined Marist-Westem Suburbs.

John Flanagan, the new Marist coach, ran the rule over Franklin in trial games and placed him in the centres alongside the equally sturdy Mocky Brereton. Perhaps Franklin has made his final “permanent” positional switch; then again. Flanagan has the useful option of having Franklin available for the pack should he select the Kiwi, Michael O’Donnell, as a centre after the New Zealand tour of Australia. In the meantime, Marist’s supporter have had numerous opportunities to applaud Franklin’s abi-

lities as a centre. So much so that Franklin — with 12 tries in nine appearances — has out-scored all others at the half-way stage of the premiership.

He gives no hint of any strangeness to the role, invariably racing back into position after having been involved in any phase of play. Two or three defenders'are usually required to restrain Franklin when in possession and his own defence has an admirable accuracy and forcefulness.

“There is a lot of tackling to be done in the centres, and it is important to get from one side of the field to the other quickly so as not to leave any gaps,” Franklin said. "I had no reputation as a try-scorer on the Coast; it has just happened, but there is no doubt that Mocky has been a big help to me.”

Franklin and Brereton will be together when Canterbury seeks to eliminate West Coast from the Rothmans championship, the zone result to be decided from matches at the Show Grounds on Saturday and at Greymouth on July 30.

Hopefully, they will be given a brisker delivery of the ball than that received in Canterbury’s victory over Wellington on

Queen’s Birthday Monday. It was not until the fortysecond minute that Franklin had his first attacking chance, and he pushed two rivals from his path in scoring a try in his debut.

“Club football over her/ is really good — one car expect a hard match every week. Only the games with Runanga and WaroRakau were really tough on the Coast and having a bye in the competition was annoying.

“The different ground conditions haven’t worried me. As long as the surface is reasonable I don’t mind whether it is firm or wet,” Franklin said. Franklin made a brief return to Greymouth as the Canterbury back reserve last month, but he will have to wait until the second Rothmans fixture before making his reappearance at Wingham Park. Canterbury lost by 10 points as Don Ladner once more exhibited his goal-kicking artistry and Franklin found sitting on the substitutes’ bench a most frustrating assignment.

At 93kg, Franklin outweighs all other centres in first-class rugby league, the rugged Filipaina included. Fortunately he has no weight problems — a few ales or a particularly large T-bone steak do not have to be followed by an

extra couple of laps ■ at training — and his acceleration and sustained pace are surprising for one of his size. D.uring the summer months Franklin keeps in

trim by surfing and shooting — he has bagged a few deer — and he is content to carry out the heavy training schedule imposed by club and provincial commitments.

Franklin’s present aim is to consolidate his place in the Canterbury line-up — “I’m happy as long as I get a game — I don’t mind whether it be in the forwards or backs.”