Lowe’s comments irk selector

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 60

Lowe’s comments irk selector

PA Auckland ■ A national rugby league selector, Bob Bailey, said yesterday he was sick of the former Kiwi coach, Graham Lowe, decrying the efforts of league officials in New Zealand. Mr Bailey hit back at the television comments by Mr Lowe, who claimed administrators in this country “passed the buck” when plans went awry. Mr Lowe is an advocate of a sole New Zealand selector-coach. He said the coach, Tony Gordon, had to take responsibility for the decisions of four fellow selectors and this was unfair. , Mr Bailey said he objected to Mr Lowe’s com-

ments. “I take objection to his comments that the national selectors run and hide and leave the Kiwi coach to carry the can.”

"Who wants him coming back here and criticising. Who does he think he is? He is no better as a coach than anyone else. The difference is he always has a big cheque book by his side.

“He has always had a way with the media and television. I’m not the sort of person who’s going to back off and let him carry on; I’ve had enough of it,” said Mr. Bailey. "I take real exception to the way he is mouthing off. It is nothing to do with him.”

Mr Bailey said that in 1987, after Auckland had beaten Wigan in England, it was Mr Lowe who had done the running and hiding.

“Some of the boys wanted to have a drink with the Wigan guys afterwards. We couldn't find Graham Lowe afterwards.”

Mr Bailey also criticised Mr Lowe’s suggestion for the Kiwi coach to be the sole selector. The Kiwi coach’s four fellow selectors had a vital role to perform, he said. “We don’t just sit on our bums for a week and come up with a side. If we did have a sole selector coach we’d be the only

people in the world who did. The Australians have seven or eight selectors.

“I haven’t had a weekend at home in the past three months. I am the convener of the Northern Province selectors, and a selector and a coach of the President’s XIII and convener for the Junior Kiwis. “The other selectors have similar tasks. “If it is a one-off test, as we had against Great Britain last year, then we have a big say in picking the Kiwi side. “But over a series with three test matches the coach has the most input. He doesn’t have all the say, but if things are not fitting in the team then the nod of the head goes to him.”