Problem of ‘plastered’ players

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 36

Problem of ‘plastered’ players

By

JOHN COFFEY

Sonny Rolleston, the Eastern Suburbs premier rugby league coach, could hardly be blamed for thinking that broken thumbs should be considered a contagous disease. Three of his forwards, Barry Edkins, Jim Churcher and John McGuiness, have suffered identical injuries in the last few weeks and all have an arm encased in plaster. Worse still, all three are expected to miss the N.Z.I.G. championship. play-offs which. begin with Eastern meeting the premiership co-

winner, Marist-Western Suburbs, in the major semi-final at the Show Grounds on Sunday. The victor advances straight to the grand final on August 31. Edkins, a member of the Kiwi pack in both tests against Australia in June, is the most serious loss. He has assumed the role of forward leader held in previous seasons by Alan Rushton and Grant Findlay and is responsible for directing Eastern’s manoeuvres in centre field. It was originally thought that Edkins would be available again after next weekend, but he is not now due

to have the plaster removed until September 2, just four days before the trial to select the New Zealand team to tour Britain and France. Any earlier return would increase the risk of aggravating the injury. A very conscientious sec-ond-rower, Churcher was outstanding in Eastern’s championship triumphs in 1975 and 1979. McGuiness was Eastern’s first-choice hooker this season. Marist has lost only one regular; premier player. Wayne O’Donnell has been advised to rest until next season because of an eye injury ■ suffered some weeks ago.