Kevin Iro ‘stale’

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 60

Kevin Iro ‘stale’

PA Wellington The Kiwi rugby league centre, Kevin Iro, needs desperately to take a break from the game, according to the national director of coaching, Bob Hall. “Kevin is starting to look tired, ‘stale’ as we call it,” Mr Hall said after watching the 21-year-old perform in the series against Australia. “He’s had five seasons back to back and it’s starting to show on him. He’s only a young man and he should be spending time lazing about, relaxing with his friends, lying on the beach or something instead of grinding away at the game.” The Kiwi centre, who burst onto the international scene in 1987, had an uncharacteristically poor game in the second test in Rotorua which Australia won 8-9. He bounced back in the third and final test but Mr Hall felt Iro still was not at his best. “I wish someone would tell him to take a break and relax for a while. “Once he’s away for just a while I feel he’ll show form better than he has ever done before.” Iro’s Wigan club teammate and prop, Adrian Shelford, made himself unavailable for the test series, opting instead to spend time relaxing before the start of the next English season. Iro, however, appears to be; headed back to England shortly to begin yet. another season with Wigan. •