RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 20, 23 July 1938, Page 23

RUGBY LEAGUE

AUSTRALIAN TOUR

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS

At a Government reception to the New Zealand Rugby League team in Quensland the acting Premier, Mr. P. Pease, suggested a new version of the theory that "trade follows the flag," when he suggested to the New Zealand team that they should become ambassadors for the development of closer trade relations between Queensland and New Zealand. "When I was in your country a few years ago I was surprised to find you eating sugar that was grown in Fiji. I was hoping that we would have had an opportunity to take you to the north to show you our canefields. so that you could have gone back home and told them that Queensland sugar is as good as any in the world."

The New Zealand team made the acquaintance of a real Australian when they visited Mount Coot-tha. He was a nine-f6ot carpet snake, mascot of the New South Wales Railways Rugby League team which was travelling in Queensland. "Does he Jive in Brisbane?" .asked Wilfred Brimble, eyeing the mascot dubiously. On receiving an af- i firmative reply, Brimble added, "Near our hotel?" Again the reply was in the affirmative and Wilfred intimated by his actions that at least one of the Kiwis would be leaving quickly. Jack Broderick and Jack McLeod, however, posed" for a photograph with the snake wrapped round their necks. KIWIS THE "OPPOSITION." j The Kiwis and managers were presented with cigarette cases, a pen, and a map of Quensland, in Queensland woods, at a Government reception at

Parliament House in Brisbane. Following the 'deception the New Zealanders were taken on a tour of inspection of the House. In the Legislative Assembly the Kiwis occupied the seats of the Opposition while photographs were taken. McNeight, the Kiwis' captain, was photographed in the Speaker's chair. INSPIRING WORDS. "In an England-Australia Teat on

this famous ground, captain Jim Sullivan grasped an injured Englishman by the shoulder and said, 'Coom, lud, get 'oop. Thou 'art playing for England now.' Well, you are playing for New Zealand today. Go out there and show them what you can do." Those were the words of inspiration given by manager J. A. Redwood to the Kiwis in the dressing-room prior to the New South Wales versus New Zealand game on the Sydney Cricket Ground. OVATION FOR HEM. When Jack Hemi kicked New Zealand's first goal early in the match against Quensland he received the greatest ovation ever accorded a visiting footballer (said a Brisbane newspaper). He deserved it. He kicked the ball from 10 yards beyond halfway and it soared over the goal-post. Throughout the match Hemi was the crowd's idol. Another critic says: "We take time to talk about Hemi. Whatj a man! His first goal was worth thei pris* pf admission alone. Ten yards inside his own half he placed the ball. Whoosh! Shades of Sullivan. That pill went all of 70 yards and clean through the posts. The croprd, gasped and roared."