Lowe ‘sick’ over Gregory walk-out

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 37

Lowe ‘sick’ over Gregory walk-out

PA London The coach of Wigan’s rugby league side, Graham Lowe, said yesterday he was “sick in the stomach” over the latest walk-out of his Great Britain star, Andy Gregory. Gregory made his dramatic gesture after being named as substitute for the Silk Cut Challenge Cup second-round match against Bradford Northern on Sunday. The scrum half — rated as the best in the world by the Great Britain coach, Malcolm Reilly — was quoted by national newspapers yesterday as saying he was fed up with being left out of the side. But Mr Lowe, a former New Zealand coach, revealed that he had initially picked Gregory to play against Bradford Northern. "But his attitude and response was anything but positive so I changed my mind and made him substitute,” he said. “I just don’t know what’s wrong with the guy. He’s a very mixed-up person.”

Mr Lowe said that Gregory’s future was now up to the board of directors who would be meeting later this week.

“I don’t know what is going to happen,” he said. “But what I do know is that Andy’s one of the highest-paid rugby league players in the world who’s under contract to Wigan for the next three years and he’s in breach of that contract.”

Gregory had only come off the transfer list after an earlier row with the club. Mr Lowe said that he had read he had a personal grudge against Gregory. “But nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. "I still regard him as a mate, believe it or not. But the old mate’s act goes out of the door when I pick the side, it’s as simple as that.

“The bottom line is that there should be no argument or discussion because Gregory is a contracted player and he should do as he’s told.

"If lan Rush gets put on the substitute’s bench for Liverpool there’s not a public inquiry.” Mr Lowe said that he believed Gregory’s main problem was that he expected to be guaranteed the scrum-half spot in the side and he cannot stand anyone threatening his position. “But my position is that noone is guaranteed a spot and has to fight for it.” Gregory’s absence did not stop Wigan continuing its winning run beating Bradford, 17-4, to go through to the third-round draw. “I rated it as one of our soundest victories this year,” Mr Lowe said. “Bradford are a very formidable cup side and on their home ground would have come away with a win against any other team.”

Once again Wigan’s four Kiwi international stars played a big part in the victory with Kevin Iro, who kicked two goals, being named “man of the match.”