Kiwi full-back unavailable for Australian tour

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 36

Kiwi full-back unavailable for Australian tour

By

JOHN COFFEY

Michael O’Donnell (Canterbury), the regular New Zealand rugby league full-back in the last four test series, is not available for the Kiwi tour to Australia and Papua New Guinea in June and July. The South Island manager of a firm which manufactures roof tiles, O’Donnell feels that tie cannot afford the time away from his business and family commitments to make a third major overseas football tour.

Although O’Donnell’s availability has been in doubt for some time, he officially withdrew from contention yesterday. He had discussed his situation with the New Zealand coach, Ces Mountford, the previous week-end, and has stood firm in his decision in spite of a request from Mr Mountford to reconsider. “I am really disappointed that I cannot be available. There is a great, team spirit in the Kiwi camp and new Zealand has its best chance

of upsetting Australia for many years,” O’Donnell said. “It would have been good to team up again with Mark Broadhurst (his old MaristWestern Suburbs chib-mate, who is now with ManlyWarringah in Sydney), but it is not possible. I am keen to continue playing at other representative levels,” he said. O’Donnell emphasised that he had not retired from international football, and that he would review the position next season.

“The time involved in preparing for a major tour is the biggest problem," he said. “If, for example, the Kiwis suffered through injuries while in Australia and I was asked to go as a replacement then I would certainly do so.” O’Donnell, aged 29, made his debut for the Kiwis in the World Cup win over France at Auckland in 1977. He toured Australia the next year, having to be content to fill a utility role in the minor matches.

After appearing in both tests against Australia in 1989, O’Donnell was outstanding on the trip to Britain and- France. He scored a memorable try to set New Zealand on the path to its victory over Britain in the second international. Last winter O'Donnell gained his second test try as the Kiwis decisively beat France in two matches at Auckland. A prolific scorer for South Island and Canterbury, O’Donnell is also the record-holder for most points

(1586) in premier rugby league hi Canterbury. The Kiwis might not have only lost their test fun-back by O’Donnell’s non-availabil-ity. Mark Graham, the Kiwi captain, is only eligible for the tests in Australia because of his commitments to North Sydney, and ODonnneil must have been among the candidates for tour captain. Fortunately, a logical replacement for the test No. 1 jersey has emerged. Gary Kemble, from Auckland, has been in exceptional form for

the Hull club in Britain, along with his fellow Kiwis, Dane O’Hara and James Leuluai. Kemble disappointed in his only previous test — the first in France in 1980, when O’Donnell played in his alternative role of centre — but his skills would have been boned at Hull. His appearance in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley before 95,008 spectators on May 1 should ensure that Kemble never again suffers from big-matcb nerves.