Clubs reluctant to release Kiwis

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 48

Clubs reluctant to release Kiwis

NZPA-AAP London The Great Britain rugby league squad’s build-up for the Australia-New Zealand tour has hit another snag. Two of the English commpetiton’s big money clubs — Hull and Hull Kingston Rovers — are re-, portedly reluctant to release their New Zealand internationals for a proposed Great Bntain-N.Z. XIII trial match next month. , .l • The clubs are both in the top lair and obviously do not tjant to risk injury to

imported rte l players at an Ka stage of ‘he s 9 uaa s Progress than the P^o r ht ßroadhurst and while Hull’s Kiwi mter oationafc arp Freddie Ah . Ja^ e

Leuluai, Gary Kemble and Dane O’Hara. Bradford Northern ran foul of the Great Britain officials recently by refusing to release squad members for training sessions because of heavy mid-week schedules. Northern finally agreed to let its players train with Myer’s squad, but not before Great Britain officials had warned that further absence from the sessions could cost the players a tour place. Hull and Hull K.R. can expect to come under pres-

sure from Great Britian officials to allow the New Zealanders to play in the trial, but the British officials will not receive total media support. The “Yorkshire Post’s” sports columnist, Raymond Fletcher, yesterday defended Hull and Hull K.R., saying that April was the most hectic month of the domestic season and that no club could be expected to release players for a trial match. jaetcher said it was no use. Mayer complaining that

the clubs’ decision would not help his preparations for the Australia-New Zealand tour. “Myer had the opportunity to test his players when he was offered a game against the Queensland tourists last October and turned it down,” Fletcher wrote. “He also ignored the chance of pitting a side against the New Zealand Maoris.” Fletcher added that while it was important to beat Australia, there wasui danger of it becoming “an

unhealthy obsession.” “Much harm has already been done. The two-match series against France has been devalued by Britain’s experimental teams reducing them to mere trial matches,” Fletcher wrote. “Had we concentrated on matching the attacking skills of the 1982 Australians, spectators as well as players would have benefited. Instead, Great Britian officials express satisfaction that in two boring defeats of France we - stopped them scoring a try.”