Broadhurst ‘player of year’

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 28

Broadhurst ‘player of year’

Mark Broadhurst, the New Zealand and former Canterbury prop, has been chosen as the “player of the year” by the champion British rugby league club, Hull

Kingston Rovers. In his first season in England, Broadhurst has combined with two other Kiwis, Gordon Smith and Gary Prohm, a former Aus-

tralian international, John Dorahy, and a sturdy band of lads from the northern counties to bring the championship trophy back to the club’s Craven Park headquarters. The success of Hull K.R. was made all the sweeter because it was at the expense of its arch rival and neighbour, Hull, which had to be content with the runner-up position. Hull K.R. will be seeking another prize next Sunday morning (N.Z. time) when it meets Castleford at Headingley in the final of the premiership, a seeded knock-out between the top eight first division teams. Hull K.R. eliminated St Helens last week-end and Castleford surprisingly beat Hull in the other semifinal. Smith, however, has been forced to withdraw from the final because of a broken jaw, suffered against Hull just one match after the championship had been decided. The May edition of the British magazine, “Open Rugby,” described Broadhurst as “an inspiration in the pack.” Only Prohm of the Hull K.R. trio will be available for the home tests against Britain in July. Broadhurst is to have surgery on a chest injury and, even before suffering his jaw injury, Smith had been doubled by knee problems.