Tamati predicts Kiwi walkover

Press, 9 October 1985, Page 72

Tamati predicts Kiwi walkover

NZPA special correspondent Harrogate The touring New Zealand team will win the forthcoming rugby league test series, 3-0, against Britain, according to the Kiwi prop, Kevin Tamati.

He is playing for the English club, Warrington, and had no hesitation in declaring that New Zealand would be easy winners in the test matches after he had trained with the Kiwis on Monday. “New Zealand will have no trouble in winning,” Tamati said in spite of the Kiwis’ shock 8-14 loss to Wigan in its opening tour game on Sunday. “The Kiwi pack will be too strong, and the Kiwis will be too good all round for Britain.” Tamati is on the comeback trail after spraining his ankle and will appear for the Warrington second team tonight after missing three games because of the injury. “I was able to go to the gymnasium and work out while my ankle was in plaster,” Tamati said. “I did not lose too much fitness during my period off.” Tamati is considering

three offers to play in Australia next winter. “I have had offers from Eastern Suburbs, Manly and North Sydney,” he said. “The offer from Norths is especially inviting now that Mark Graham, Clayton Friend and Olsen Filipaina are all there.” Tamati said he would be fit for selection in the first test match against Great Britain at Leeds on October 19.

Tamati spent time showing the new Kiwi, James Goulding, aged 19, how to help his hooker in the scrum after the Kiwis’ afternoon training session on Monday. Goulding is one of four newcomers to the New Zealand side to play the Great Britain under-21 side at the reconstructed Bradford Oval tonight. The others are the

Waikato wing, Shane Horo, the West Coast half-back Glen Gibb, and the Wellington second row forward, Sam Stewart. The team is:—Darrell Williams, Mark Bourneville, Joe Ropati, Olsen Filipaina, Shane Horo, Shane Cooper, Glen Gibb, Hugh McGahan, Mark Graham (captain), Sam Stewart, Dane Sorenson, Wayne Wallace, James Colliding.