Club willing to go to court over Kiwi player

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

Club willing to go to court over Kiwi player

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Sydney’s Cronulla Sutherland rugby league club says it is willing to take court action to support the decision of its prop, Dane Sorensen, not to represent the Kiwis this year. The New Zealand Rugby League’s executive director, Mike Knowles, was reported in Sydney yesterday as saying Sorensen would be obliged to play for New Zealand if selected for the matches against Papua New Guinea and Australia. “The New Zealand league has sent letters to Cronulla, Easts and Norths stating that Kiwi players in those clubs are under consideration for international duty," the “Daily Mirror” quoted him as saying. "A lot can happen between now and July, when the tests are to be staged, but, if our selectors want Sorensen or any other Sydney-based player, we have the right to claim them.” Cronulla’s secretary, Peter Riley, said that, after receiving the letter, he asked Sorensen if the prop wanted to play for the Kiwis and the, reply was no. “Dane has had a long i and illustrious career in representative football and feels that he doesn’t wish to play any more representative games,” said Mr Riley.

“Dane has been. here for about 10 years and his first contract stipulated that he had to be available for international football, but subsequent contracts have not.” Mr Riley said he had written to the N.Z.R.L. to convey Sorensen’s answer. He said that if the N.Z.R.L. pursued the matter of the prop’s availability for the two tests, Cronulla would be willing to go to the New South Wales and Australian Rugby Leagues, and ultimately to court if necessary. “Cronulla’s case is that New Zealand has absolutely no claim and no contract with Dane Sorensen or the Cronulla club saying that he has to play representative football,” he said. “The club will not be dictated to by New Zealand, especially over a player like Dane, who has given faithful international service over many years. “No other player has worked harder than Dane to come back from crippling injuries and his form this season has been ’outstanding.” Sorensen is one of three internationals in Sydney who have ruled themselves out of selection for the Kiwi team. The others are North Sydney’s Mark Graham and Olsen Filipaina, while Eastern Suburbs’ Gary Prohm is said to be still undecided.