Rollerson switches to league

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 36

Rollerson switches to league

PA Palmerston North the former All Black, Doug Rollerson, has acceppted a rugby league contract believed to be worth at least $50,000 over the next two years. Rollerson said yesterday that he and his family would leave today for Sydney, where he will join the North Sydney Rugby League Club. North Sydney’s secretary, Ken McCaffery, said from Sydney yesterday: “Rollerson’s a bear of a man, and we’re called the bears.” Mr McCaffery would not disclose the figure being paid to Rollerson, but sources in Sydney yesterday put the figure at least $25,000 a year; and they said that it could climb to more than $30,000 with bonuses and incentives. Rollerson will also be found a job by Norths, a team which has been struggling in recent years to keep pace with Sydney’s top-flying premier clubs. Rollerson turned down the approach last year because he wanted to play against the Springboks, and turned down another offer two weeks ago because he and his wife bad just had a son. Rollerson will play his first game for North’s reserve grade on Sunday. The coach, Ron Willey, said yesterday that Rollerson would be playing at full-back in the match against Canberra Raiders. After seeing how their new import adapted to league and Sydney conditions, and if he was good enough, Rollerson would move up to the premier team. “We don’t think it will take him too long to adapt. I gather he is a top-class goalkicker and we are in desperate need of one,” said Mr Willey.