Kemble keen to regain test slot

Press, 9 October 1985, Page 72

Kemble keen to regain test slot

NZPA Harrogate The 1985 New Zealand rugby league test full-back, Gary Kemble, is determined to retain his position in the three test series. Kemble was in great form on Sunday for his English club, Hull, which downed Hull Kingston Rovers, 28-6, to share the lead in the English championship with that side. Kemble is one of four Kiwis playing for Hull, and one of eight New Zealand players in England under consideration for the first test against Great Britain at Leeds on October 19. His team-mates are the stand-off half, Fred Ah Kuoi, the centre, James Leuluai, and the wing, Dane O’Hara.

Kemble, who played in all three tests against Australia earlier this year, was the best of the four Kiwis in the

Hull side, playing with much more confidence than he has been. He gave a faultless display at full-back. “I am keen to make the test side and it is my No. 1 aim, especially after the great Australia-Kiwi series,” said Kemble, who toured England and France in 1980, and has played in 10 tests. “All of us English based Kiwis will have to be on our guard, as we have been told by the Kiwi coach, Mr Graham Lowe, that we will have to play for our places in the test side. “I could have played better in my first couple of games for Hull, but I have got going now.” Kemble said~ the other three Hull Kiwis were all playing well. “Leuluai is much sharper, Ah Kuoi has been playing well, and Dane O’Hara is in

top form,” said Kemble. O’Hara scored one of the five tries recorded by Hull. Kemble said the two Kiwi players, the centre Gary Prohm, and Gordon Smith, who played half-back, were subdued in the Hull Kingston Rovers side. “Unfortunately, Gary saw little of the ball in a badly beaten side, and Gordon tackled well, as he always does,” said Kemble. Leuluai, Prohm and O’Hara all played for New Zealand against Australia last winter, but injury kept Ah Kuoi out of the test series. The England based Kiwi, Ms Graham West, is ready to return to football after injury. West, a former Kiwi captain, has played 17 tests for his country. He is expected to play for Wigan against Leeds on Sunday.