League ‘great’ picks Kiwi win against Wigan

Press, 5 October 1985, Page 80

League ‘great’ picks Kiwi win against Wigan

NZPA special correspondent Harrowgate The legendary Great Britain wing, Billy Boston, selects the Kiwis to beat his former team Wigan in the New Zealand rugby league side’s opening game at Wigan at the week-end. Boston, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1954 and 1962, played for Wigan for 15 years. This week he watched the club beat an injury-weakened St Helens 39-2 in a Lancashire Cup semi-final and later he said: “Wigan were not at their best. “They will have to improve to beat or even get

close to New Zealand on Sunday.” Boston, who runs the Griffin Hotel opposite the Wigan ground, said the Kiwis would be favourites. New Zealand rounds off its training for the match today. The Kiwi coach, Graham Lowe, has had the touring party training twice a day since its arrival. “Wigan have a good individual side with power in their forwards and pace in their backs,” Mr Lowe said. However, he was optimistic his team’s tour would open on a winning note. The feature of the match could be the duel between the two hookers, Howie Tamati and Wigan’s Nicky

Kiss. Tamati was hooker for Wigan during the 1983-84 English season when Kiss was also a member of the club. “He was the reserve grade hooker when I was the No. 1 hooker,” Tamati said. “There will not be any love lost between us but it will depend on the packs as to who will get the most ball.” Kiss, a rugged player, clearly won the scrums for Wigan against St Helens on Wednesday evening, although the manager of the Kiwis, Jim Campbell, was not impressed with the way he did it.