South coach criticises league panel

Press, 3 July 1979, Page 32

South coach criticises league panel

By

JOHN COFFEY

The southern provinces, and particularly Canterbury, were unfairly treated by the New Zealand rugby league selectors in naming their side to meet Britain at Auckland on July 21, said the South Island coach, Mr Gary Ciarke, yesterday.

Mr Clarke, who is also a Canterbury selector, was understandably elated at South’s 11-10 win over Auckland at Carlaw Park on Saturday, but his pleasure soured when he heard the composition of the Kiwi team the next day. “It really hurt,” Mr Clarke said. “South finished second, and almost won, the interdistrict trials, yet had only three players included compared to the five or six (if you count Dane Sorensen) from Auckland, which had one victory.” In Mr Clarke’s opinion, and those of the five-man panel (comprising Messrs “Snow” Telford, Bill Sorensen, Bill O’Cailaghan, Ossie Butt and Harry Walker), there was never any doubt that Tony Coll (West Coast) would be retained and that Gordon Smith (West Coast) and Mark Broadhurst (Canterbury) had earned their places on performances in the trials.

But Mr Clarke was severely critical that his squad did not have greater representation. He was reluctant to mention individuals —- “I would like to see them all make it” — but when pressed referred to the shock omission of Barry Edkins and the absence of Lewis Hudson, Alan Rushton, Paul Truscott and Terry Gillman. “Maybe Edkins was not too good in the first trial. However, he came right against Central Districts and at Auckland he played his heart out, tackling and backing up for the whole 80 minutes and scoring two tries. He should have been a sitter,” Mr Clarke said. “Hudson, Rushton and Truscott were never outplayed during the district series, and Gillman should

[have merited more considers. Ition on his display at Auckland. It was a great team [effort which beat Auckland, I and our forward pack was clearly superior,” he said. [ Mr Clarke considered that the New Zealand Rugbi League’s decision to enlist the services of Sorensen, whn is in his third season with the Sydney club, CronullaSutherland, as unnecessary and unwise. “We have players in the South Island whc are just as good and whc have been seen by the selectors in their present form.” “The players in thii country must won d e i whether it is worth slaving away and playing their guts out. It must be dishearteninj to them, but I hope that the) do not become discouraged.

“It looks to me as if changes will have to be mad, for the second test. The Canterbury trialists should alsc be more determined to maki ,an impression for the provSince against Britain on August 1.

“A good performance the, could lead to selection for thi third and final test and it is that group which will havi the front-running for th. Kiwi side to go to Britain and France next year,” Mr Clarks said.

South Island officials wen also annoyed at the off-the-field treatment received fron their Auckland counterparts

The team was left to find its own lunch in Auckland and had to walk to the ground — “something thal made our players just that much more eager to win," Mr Clarke said.

The after-match speechei also left a sour taste, especially the barbed remarks about the referee, Mr Don Wilson, of Canterbury. Ms Clarke said the comments were quite unjustified and that in private conversation several prominent formes Auckland representatives agreed that Mr Wilson was entitled to be regarded as this country’s most efficient referee.