Tony Iro linked with St Helens

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 33

Tony Iro linked with St Helens

NZPA , London Wigan’s Tony Iro is set to join St Helens the club whose downfall he helped to plot in last year’s English Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.

The Saints chairman, Joe Pickavance, spoke to the Kiwi wir.ger at his home in Auckland yesterday and told NZPA afterwards: “My feeling is that he will be joining us.” Saints could still face competition from Australian side Manly who will be coached next season by the former Wigan boss, Graham Lowe, and who have already said that they want Iro to sign for them. “But the way it has been left is that he will be coming to us,” Mr Pickavanace said. “I expect it to be finalised within the next few days.” Iro, who played for New Zealand in the second test defeat by Australia at Rotorua, has settled happily in Britain since arriving at Wigan with brother Kevin as a complete unknown two years ago. He has played in two win-

ning Wembley sides and gained numerous other honours but looks certain to be left out in the cold when the English quota of overseas players is cut to three for the coming season. Wigan already have fellow Kiwis Adrian Shelford and Dean Bell on contract and remain confident that Kevin Iro will also return. Wigan’s coach, Maurice Lindsay, has applied for Bell to be excluded from the quota system because of the length of time he has been in Britain. But he has hinted that if this move fails Wigan would be prepared to release Tony Iro. Saints, who this week-end had a £250,000 ($NZ697,350) offer turned down by the Australian rugby union star, David Campese, are offering Tony Iro a three year contract which would start at the end of the New Zealand tour to Great Britain this autumn. “We were very impressed by him at Wigan,” Mr Pickavance said. “He is a big strong lad who

we think could play centre as well as wing.” Tony Iro played a key role in Wigan’s 27-0 demolition of Saints in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in April in which his brother Kevin scored two tries and came within inches of a third. Since that loss, success hungry Saints have put 13 players, worth about £400,000 ($NZ1,115,760) on the transfer list to make way for new fresh talent. Meanwhile, the former Welsh rugby union star, David Bishop’s future with Hull K.R. remains in doubt. Bishop, who cost £lOO,OOO ($NZ278,940) last season, has angered club officials by playing baseball for Wales when he should have been attending Hull’s pre-season training sessions last week. There has been talk that Hull were considering suspension and transfer listing as well as fine. But there has been no confirmation of that intent. Bishop still has two years of a three year contract to run.