Hoodoo on hookers

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 32

Hoodoo on hookers

Differing scrummaging interpretations made life difficult for the New Zealand rugby league hookers in Britain and France last year, and the wearers of the No. 9 jerseys might feel that they have not yet shaken off their misfortunes. The first-choice test hooker, Alan Rushton (Canterbury), is still trying to overcome a lingering knee injury and hopes to resume football with his club, Hornby, when the premiership begins on April 8. Howie Tamati (Taranaki), who regained the position when Rushton was not available for the second test in

France in December, has also been inactive. He is suffering from an injured shoulder and is not available for Central Districts when it makes its Tooth Cup debut against Manly-Warringah (Sydney) on April 22. The stand-in hooker in one of the provincial fixtures in France, Kevin Tamati (Wellington)—a cousin of Howie — will also miss the clash with Manly. Tamati is unable to arrange leave from his employment for Central’s two Tooth Cup games and withdrew from consideration.

Ironically, the replacement Central hooker, Chappie Pine (Wellington), • had the unusual distinction of scoring four tries when the Tooth

Cup squad beat The Rest, 66-18, last week-end. Central’s team (with one to be omitted) is— Warren Collicoat, Mark Peterson, Nolan Tupaea, John Whittaker, Wayne Rutene, Monty Henry, Gary Butler, . Paul Christensen, Lance Pupuke, Dick Uluave, Paul Te Ariki, Chappie Pine, Bruce Gall, Graeme West, Moses Kemp, Ken Gifford; Twiss Wharekura, Wiki Henry. Central’s other match in the qualifying series is against another Sydney club, Penrith, on May 13. Prize money and individual awards total more than $400,000, the tournament winner receiving $lOO,OOO.