Important season for former Canterbury league star

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 34

Important season for former Canterbury league star

By

JOHN COFFEY

It was hardly surprising that Marty Crequer, the former Canterbury and New Zealand rugby league outside back, should make such a convincing start to his 1989 season under the Carlaw Park floodlights last Thursday night. Crequer made several characteristically penetrative runs from the right flank of the Northcote backline during the opening round of the Auckland inter-club pre-season tournament. The next few months are vital to Crequer’s football future. It will be his fourth and final winter in Auckland before he takes up the second stage of a unique agreement with the Newcastle club in New South Wales.

But Crequer is particularly eager to make his mark in domestic football, bidding for a place in the Kiwi teams for the home tests against Australia and the tour to Britain and France.

“Knowing that my future is secure with Newcastle enables me to set targets,” said Crequer.

The first aim is to im-

press the Auckland selec-tor-coach, Cameron Bell. Although Crequer first wore a Kiwi jersey as long ago as 1983, he is still only 24 years of age. But he has yet to gain a permanent place in the New Zealand backline. In 1985 he was chosen for the tour to Britain and France, withdrew because of a broken jaw, and later joined the team as a replacement. Crequer retained his place for the trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea three years ago, taking his number of test appearances to three, and went to Britain with the Auckland squad in 1987.

But he rates last October’s game for the Wellington Invitation XIII against Australia at the Basin Reserve as the most important of his career “so far.”

Negotiations with the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Giants clubs had lapsed when his transfer fee was bumped up to sAust36,ooo. The match against the Australian World Cup side provided him with another opportunity to dis-

play his skills to talent scouts from across the Tasman.

As centre and captain "it turned out a lot better than I expected,” said Crequer. “I was the only experienced guy there and the others looked to me for an example. That gave me the dual incentives to lead a bunch of younger guys and to get a contract for myself,” he said. Crequer also “sold” himself to Newcastle by means of a self-made video of his career highlights for the Kiwis, Auckland and Northcote.

“I edited it myself. I would have cost me $7OO to have it done professionally,” he said.

Newcastle was indeed interested, but had not budgeted for another sizeable transfer fee.

“They told me they could sign me for very little, or set up this unique agreement. “I am paid a retainer by Newcastle while I play for Northcote this season, then go to Australia for the next two. My bonuses are the same as the New Zealanders actually in

Newcastle — for example if I make a test side I get another sAusslooo and there is a tour bonus too,” said Crequer. A clause, and Northcote’s agreement, permits Newcastle to call Crequer to Australia if it suffers a rash of injuries this season. The player himself is hoping that will not occur.

“I probably have the best of both worlds now — I’ve signed with a professional club but this year I can perform in front of the Kiwi selectors.” ,

Crequer has done well in the past as a centre and fullback, but it will almost certainly be as a wing that his provincial and international prospects will be assessed. He is content to follow that path rather than need to make frequent adjustments.

“I see myself as a wing at this stage, though I want to be classed as a utility. The selectors know if they need to move someone to centre or fullback I can do it,” he said. He might not have appeared in the provincial

fixtures last year, but Crequer was chosen by Mr Bell for the victory over Great Britain and the narrow defeat by CanterburyBankstown.

Does Crequer have any regrets that he left Hornby and Canterbury in 1986?

“Not really. Some say I’ve been unlucky that I’ve been overlooked for some representative and Kiwi football.

“If I was going to play for New Zealand and was good enough it wouldn’t matter where I was. I feel I’m a far better player now than I was even two years ago.

“The build-up and pressure of club matches in Auckland is like playing top-four football in Canterbury every week, especially since Auckland reduced its premier sides to eight. Everybody beats everybody else, there are no easy games,” said Crequer.

He will leave Auckland to link up with Newcastle during next summer — “after I get back from the Kiwi tour I hope,” he quipped.