Young Kiwi backs to play overseas

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 76

Young Kiwi backs to play overseas

By

JOHN COFFEY

Darrell Williams, the outstanding young New Zealand rugby league outside back, is almost certain to be wearing ManlyWarringah’s colours in the 1987 Sydney premiership. Another exceptionally talented young Kiwi three-quarters, Mark Elia, is poised to join the St Helens club in the British first division later this year. Both Williams and Elia are expected to file applications for overseas transfers within the next few days, the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby League, Mr Michael Knowles, said from Auckland yesterday. Once that process is completed Mr Knowles will forward contracts to Manly-Warringah and St

Helens — after pencilling in the $46,000 “negotiating fee” in the appropriate place.

It is that figure — placed on. the heads of 12 Kiwis who are eligible to link up with overseas clubs on a full-time basis — which has prevented the Canterbury and New Zealand front-row forward, Brent Todd, from signing for the Redcliffe club in Brisbane. Mr Knowles said that Manly-Warringah officials were aware of the fee required for Williams, and believes that St Helens would not be surprised by the amount asked for Elia’s services on a permanent basis. The contracts of Williams and Elia, who are both aged 23, would require them to be avail-

able for New Zealand at test level.

It was regrettable that Todd was experiencing problems in his bid to join Redcliffe, said Mr Knowles, but the size of the fees were justified.