Graham to lead player revolt?

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 38

Graham to lead player revolt?

BY

CHRIS PETERS

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney A revolt against rugby league administrators over the sacking of the Kiwis’ coach, Graham Lowe, is shaping among Sydney-based Kiwi stars. The six Sydney professionals will hold a noon press conference in Sydney today to air views about Mr Lowe’s departure.

It is anticipated in Sydney that most will announce they will join the Kiwi skipper, Mark Graham, and declare they will not play for New Zealand again. Graham, the Kiwi captain for the last six years

and widely regarded as the best forward in world league, announced on Friday he would not be available for the Kiwis again. He cited as reason the fact that the New Zealand Rugby League changed its mind over Mr Lowe’s appointment for the next season while he is in his new offseason job as coach of the English club, Wigan. A furious Graham said the switch by the league, which put Mr Lowe “in an untenable position”, capped for him a series of frustrations with administrators at home.

Yesterday it emerged that the other five Sydney professionals — the stand-off, Olsen Fili-

paina, half-back Clayton Friend, utilities Hugh McGahan and Gary Prohm, and wing Dean Bell — could all be feeling the same way. Graham, who on Saturday played a lion of a game for his North Sydney club and earned the man-of-the-match award, said yesterday the Sydney six would hold a press conference at noon today. “I’ve spoken to Gary Prohm this morning, and he’s contacting the others,” Graham said. It is widely expected some of the others will follow Graham’s lead and declare themselves unavailable for the Kiwis. Graham, however,

refused to speculate on the motives of the other five.

“I have not spoken io them on their views,” he said. “At this stage the meeting is to allow them to say what they think about the sacking of Lowe.”

A report in Sydney yesterday claimed that neither Filipaina nor Friend, Graham’s North Sydney team-mates, wanted to play for New Zealand again. If the Sydney players do not play for their country then under the terms of their club contracts they would be unable to play for their clubs on days of tests — a situation most seem

prepared to accept. Loss of the six would rip the heart out of the Kiwis, which under Lowe achieved in 1983 and 1985 heights not attained by New Zealand for years.

Last year they emerged moral victors in the three-test series against Australia, capping two. close games with an historic 18-0 third test win at Carlaw Park.

Then they toured Britain and finished top of the World Cup table with five points. This year, however, the wheels fell off the Kiwi waggon and they lost three tests against Australia and drew a

two-test series with lowly rated Papua New Guinea. Mr Lowe blamed lack of preparation of the test side — ironically the factor that has led to his dismissal — while Graham said the problem was restricting players from getting professional experience overseas early in their careers.

If the Sydney revolt was to spread to Englishbased Kiwi professionals the departure of Mr Lowe could lead to an unprecedented upheaval in New Zealand league at a time when crowds were flocking to the game, lured by its success and from disenchantment with rugby union.