Former Cantabrians will feature in touring league side

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 21

Former Cantabrians will feature in touring league side

By

JOHN COFFEY

Former Cantabrians from all points of the rugby league compass will outnumber jpresent provincial representatives in the New Zealand team to be announced tomorrow for the tour of Britain and France. Brent Todd, now resident in Canberra, Adrian Shelford, in his third season at Wigan, and the Sydney rookies, Esene Faimalo (Balmain) and Brendon Tuuta (Wests), are certain to be among the chosen forwards.

It would be a major surprise if Phil Bancroft, whose football these days is played in the colours of Glenora and Auckland, is not the second scrum-half and one of the goal-kick-ers.

In recent weeks, Marty Crequer has zoomed back into contention with a series of rousing displays for another Auckland club, Northcote. Crequer

has first-class experience at wing and centre and has also kicked goals. An even longer shot would be Jason Williams, who left Christchurch in his youth and achieved first grade status in Sydney. But 40 minutes of decisive action at centre against Wellington before being injured, might not have been enough to press his claims.

Canterbury does have a number of resident representatives in contention. But most are strongly contested tussles for few vacancies in a 26-man touring team which will be largely dominated by overseas-based professionals.

Wayne Wallace could regain a Kiwi hooking position; Russell Tuuta must be among the frontrow prop candidates; Gary Leek merits consideration as a forward capable of packing down at

prop or second-row; Mike Dorreen has challenged well for a place in the centres; and Carl Hall is vying with his Wellington counterpart, Morvin Edwards, for the second fullback role. But none of them is assured of a place. All could miss out in the tightest Kiwi selection for many years.

It is probable that Edwards has an edge over Hall in the thinking of the national panel. His extra season in the provincial limelight boosts his prospects of understudying Darrell Williams if a specialist fullback is to be named. An alternative would be to switch Tony Kemp to a utility role and boost the number of midfield backs. Crequer’s versatility increases the options. If the selectors stay true to the test players used against Australia in July, then Gary Freeman and Bancroft will tip Clayton Friend out of the scrum-half reckoning. Shane Cooper could have his wish of being considered only for the tests fulfilled if Kurt Sherlock is moved in to join Kelly Shelford as the stand-off halves.

Should Mark Elia, Gary Mercer, Tony Iro, David Watson, Kemp and Kevin Iro all be named, then only two gaps appear in the three-quarters. But switching Kemp to fullback has its appeal, and the depth of New Zealand’s midfield backs would be increased by

promoting Dorreen and either Tea Ropati or Dean Clark from Auckland. Crequer could edge out David Ewe (Wellington), Jarrod McCracken (North Sydney rookie) and Sam Panapa (Auckland) for the fourth wing position. Hugh McGahan, as captain, and Brendon Tuuta, who can cover the halves in an emergency, will be the loose forwards.

Sam Stewart, Mark Horo, Faimalo, Todd, Shelford and James Goulding leave just two vacancies for secondrowers or props, and one of those should be George Mann on the basis of his rousing displays for Auckland and the President’s XIII against Australia.

So Russell Tuuta and Leek are up against the Auckland trio of Se’e Solomona (a rookie at Canter-bury-Bankstown), Francis Leota and Shane Hansen, Mike Kuiti from Wellington, and the West Coaster,

Brent Stuart. Seven into one just won’t go.

Duane Mann ‘ has earned top ranking among the hookers. Wallace must rely on his excellent track record for the Kiwis to beat off the bids by Barry Harvey, of Wellington, Peter Ropati, who shared the Auckland job with Mann, and the Junior Kiwi, Hitro Okesene. A team sure to acquit itself well on the 18-match tour would be:—

Darrell Williams, Tony Kemp; Mark Elia, Gary Mercer, Tony Iro, Marty Crequer; Kevin Iro, David Watson, Mike Dorreen, Tea Ropati; Kelly Shelford, Kurt Sherlock; Gary Freeman, Phil Bancroft; Duane Mann, Wayne Wallace; Brent Todd, James Goulding, George Mann, Adrian Shelford; Sam Stewart, Mark Horo, Esene Faimalo, Se’e Solomona; Brendon Tuuta, Hugh McGahan (captain).