RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 69, 18 September 1937, Page 23

RUGBY LEAGUE

VALUE OF TEAM WORK

NO ROOM FOR SELFISHNESS

The Wellington Rugby-lifagfto's Walmsley Shield competition was w.on by Petone. First-grade teams are now contesting the knock-out competition. Central and Randwick were eliminated in the first series of games ' and the semi-flnalists are St. George, Petone, and Newtown. Unless Newtown de« velop team work they will not reach the final; Rugby League football has been described as a game which calls for the best mental and physical effort of the individual, with the co-operation of twelve colleagues, -to. provide.,'--.'.and produce a game of Rugby football enjoyable for player and spectator" alike. TUB SELFISH PtAYEJR^ ■ The highest standard ;.ot team; f combination is attained only when-each member disregards selfishness up to that point when solo action will be rewarded with a try. Too often does one see a player going "solo" and in the great majority of instances. he lands his side in trouble. It must be heartbreaking to' a pack of forwards who, after battling hard to get within striking distance of the opposition's goalline, break up from a scrum or heavy ruck to see a team-mate in the back line simply throw away a try-getting opportunity through an act of individual selfishness. One has inadvertently referred to this type of- player as a team-mate. But he is not« teammate. He is merely a player and by all the unwritten laws of Rugby League football, a very poor player. We all know that passing tho ball on a football field to a team-mate in a worse position than one's self is a cowardly act. It is the selfish player who is the offender because it is he who, after running too far ■ with the ball and eventually into trouble, is confronted with a probable thumping; Then he elects to pass the ball and punishing tackle on to a colleague. Again, it is disconcerting and upsetting to the player unfortunately playing outside a selfish colleague. Because he is not receiving enough of the ball to enter into the spirit of the game and the opportunity to sum up by practical test, the calibre of the opposition, his interest in the game is not continually gripped. The selfish player all round is a heaven-sent gift to the opposition. Rugby League football is essentially a team game and coaches and captains should see to it that the man who is not prepared to play the game along that line is dropped.