‘Rookie’ system working

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 34

‘Rookie’ system working

Rugby league’s “rookie” scheme, which enables emerging players to spend a season with Australian clubs, has become a stepping stone between New Zealand junior and senior selection. When it was introduced last year four of the 10 nominated “rookies” — Andrew Vincent (Canterbury), Tawera Nikau (Waikato), Tony Kemp (Wellington) and Dean Clark (Auckland) — had been Junior Kiwis. The 1988 list, made known last week, contained the names of seven Junior Kiwis — Esene Faimalo, Mark Nixon (Canterbury), Jarrod McCracken, Carl Hall, Kelly Shelford (Auckland), Paul Nahu (Bay of Plenty) and Jason Donnelly (Waikato).

Faimalo, of course, has already completed an international double. He made his full Kiwi debut as a replacement against Papua New Guinea in the World Cup qualifying match at Auckland in July. Only Gary Leek (Canterbury), David Ewe (Wellington) and Se’e Solomona (Auckland) were not Junior Kiwis. But Solomona’s background is not totally dissimilar — he is a former New Zealand age-group rugby union forward. Apart from Faimalo, most others have made an impact at senior representative level. Leek, Ewe, Solomona, Nahu and Shelford have been Kiwi trialists and both Nixon and Donnelly have played for their provinces. Solomona is spending the 1988-89 British season with a second division club, Sheffield Eagles, while Nahu and Shelford played for New Zealand Maoris in this month’s Pacific Cup series. Donnelly and Hall were Junior Kiwis against Australia last winter, and McCracken greatly impressed North Sydney observers, when he trained with that club before the start of the 1988 season. Nomination as a “rookie” does not bring with it automatic entry into the highly professional New South Wales premiership. The players

still have to attract the attention of Australian officials. That did not occur in three cases last year, the Australians preferring players with a smattering of senior international experience or those who had proved themselves as Junior Kiwis. Ironically, Kemp was the star “pupil” of the inaugural class, yet his decision to take legal action in a bid to stay with Newcastle beyond his one-season deadline almost torpedoed the whole scheme. But in spite of the pending legal wrangle the “rookies” did well for themselves and their adopted clubs. That should be to the benefit of those who have been nominated to follow in their stud marks. JOHN COFFEY