Kiwi selectors ‘have erred’

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 72

Kiwi selectors ‘have erred’

NZPA London The Kiwi rugby league selectors “don’t know what they’re doing” by omitting the big forward, Emosi Koloto, from their squad to tour Britain and France, according to the outspoken Widnes coach, Doug Laughton. Mr Laughton, who brought the former Wellington rugby representative to England, believes the Kiwi selectors have erred badly in leaving Koloto out. ......

“I know he’s good enough, everybody in the English game knows he’s good enough. You could say ‘forgive them, father, for they know not what they’re doing’,” Mr Laughton said of the selectors, headed by the coach, Tony Gordon. - < Koloto helped Widnes retain the English club championship title last season and was in devastating form again in the opening round of the competition last Sunday, scoring a try in Widnes’

46-18 win over Salford. Mr Laughton, who admitted the New Zealand selectors might not have seen much of Koloto, said the rugged lock or second rower had adapted from rugby union to league with ease. “I always thought Emosi had the basic skills because * remember he was a New Zealand rugby forward, not a Welsh or English forward. That is the difference. “His ball skills are as good as I’ve ever seen.

Tell me how many rugby league forwards can balance a spinning soccer ball on the tip of one finger?" he asked. The Widnes captain, Kurt Sorenson, made his test debut for the Kiwis at 18. Mr Laughton rates Koloto a better player than Sorenson at the same stage of development. “He’s something else, this man. I feel sorry for him but I’m glad they haven’t picked him because it’s going to help me win the league here.”