FOOTBALL SENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 12

FOOTBALL SENSATION.

DOMINION LEAGUE PLAYERS. DEMANDS TO ST. HELENS CLUB. DISSATISFIED WITH TERMS. Special to Herald BY J. N. SHERWOOD. LONDON, March 26. Three New Zealand international Rugby League players were tho centre of a firstclass sensation on tho eve of tho English Rugby Lcaguo cup semi-final. .the players concerned wero Ilutt, llall and Hardgrave, doubtless well-known in your country who, dissatisfied with tho conditions under which they were playing and working in St. Helens, sent an ultimatum to the club declaring that unless certain demands wero met with, which included a grant of £250, they would refuse to turn out for tho team in the important cup match. Naturally this hold up, as it was described by tho club oflicials, caused consternation in St. Helens, for all three players have played a very big part in helping tho team to reach the semi-final round. Without their assistance against Wigan, for whom, by the way, Brown, the New Zealander, is showing splendid form, tho team would have stood no earthly chance. The grievance with the players is that when they wero signed on by St. Helens certain prospects wero held out to them, which have not materialised. Employment was to bo found for the players which, in addition to their wages for helping St. Helens, was to materially increase their incomes. Extra Money Demanded, According to tho players Uio work that tho club has found for them has not produced the money anticipated, and as regards tho demand for £250, tho players sought this, because, having mado good, they considered they wero entitled to it as an extra signing on fee. They reckoned that in the first place St. Helens got them much cheaper than they would have done had tlicy known how things were to pan out. In others words, llutt, Hall and Ilardgravo inferred that the St. Helens Club had induced them to sign on for a paltry fee, in consequence of tho bright picture they painted of the money to be mado in England. A hurried meeting was held by the St. Helens directors, ono of whom described tho action by vour three countrymen as holding a pistol at their heads on tho eve of their most important match of tho year in order to gain their ends. Tho outcome of this meeting was that the tlireo players were dropped from the side. The directors refused to comply with their ultimatum.

It was pointed out that the players had no reason to bo dissatisfied, for their wages camo very near approaching those of Billy Ratten, who in Jiis day was the highest-salaried Rugby League player in the world. Ration's "screw" was £l4 per week. If the assertion by the St. Helens directors bo true that Jlutt, Hall and Hardgrave are receiving money approaching this sum, then their gricvanco seems to be of the phantom variety. Mayor as Arbitrator.

Within three days of tho big match coming off the wound was healed, although probably it is but a temporary healing. Peace was brought about through tho intervention of tho Mayor of St. Helens, who invited the players to meet him and thrash out tho grievance. In consequence of this heart-to-heart talk, tho Mayor promised lm. would act as arbitrator, and so the players withdrew their demand. In consequence, the directors decided to reinstate tho New Zealanders, who will turn out in the cup match, after which the dispute will be thoroughly considered. All is peace now—for tho time being. The players, in a very sporting fashion, made it known to tho Mayor and to the directors that they would'turn out against Wigan "as though nothing unpleasant had happened." From what 1 can gather, tho players, wliilo hardly justified in their "hold up" threat, have nevertheless a grievance. And it is almost certain that unless the financial terms are revised they will not be. with the St. Helens Club. It seems certain that they signed on for a ridiculously low feo in tho first place. 'And it astonishes me that they should have done so. Maybe the reason was that they were lured by well-intended promises which have not come up to expectations. This seems to be the whole crux of the matter.