Burke brother steps out of shadow

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 33

Burke brother steps out of shadow

NIPA-AAP Sydney I While Matt Burke ma :es the successful switch fr i union to rugby league, tiis elder brother, Brad, is about to step out of his shadow J. I Brad Burke ; joins Biian > Smith in the Australian team’s two half-back positi oris ; for the Hong Kong sevens ( tqurnament at the week-t nd. I |The Burke brothers were i members of the undefeited ! Australian Schoolboys t( am which toured Britain in 1911. • I But while Matt -soarec | to international honours in 1184, gaining his test cap du ing the 'Grand Slam tour, Brad }' h(as ! slowly established iim- (

self as an able deputy to Nick 1 Farr-Jones, filling in on those’ rare occasions (when the test half has been unavailable. I ! And while Burke’s career looks a little! brighter, he realises that going to! Hon £ Kong only puts his toe; inside the door, i; I .' J ! J ' “Sevens is a!very different type of game,” he said yesterday. "But I like to think that my selection raises the possibility of my going, further in the XV-man game.” J Brad will not be but of place in this year’s team; in fact he has! played alongside five of .the, eight other players. ’ j j The wingers, David

Campese and Acura Niugila, are Randwick Club mates, Michael Lynagh and Steve Tuynman were in the 1981 Schoolboys team, and Julian Gardner was lin the 1984 Under-21 team. j The other Hong Kong players are Smith, test flanker Jeff Miller and Tim Gavin, from the Easts team which played Randwick in the first trial three weeks ago. Brad missed this year’s Australian summer, preferring to further his rugby knowledge playing for the historic Blackheath club in London, where he was halfback in its top team.