LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23070, 22 June 1938, Page 15

LEAGUE TEAM'S TOUR

EARLY REVERSE SUFFERED CHANCES NOT APPRECIATED ""We lost the first match because our players were not quick enough to take advantage of openings which, if seized, would havq put us up 20 points in the first half," observed Mr. J. A. Redwood, manager of the New Zealand Rugby League team, in commenting on the game against New South Wale_s at the Sydney Cricket ground on June 11, when the Kiwis lost by 12 points to 25. The team, he added, was trained and coached to the minute and had very hard luck in losing one of the centres, A. Kay, at a critical stage, when he was playing brilliantly. The home forwards gave the New Zealand vanguard no quarter. There was quite a crop of injuries. J. Smith was troubled with a sore leg, R. Brown had a slightly torn muscle, McNeight received a bruised thigh, Herring hurt his shoulder, and J. Brodrick suffered minor cuts. Mr. Redwood revealed that a committee had been set up, consisting of the managers, coach, captain and vicecaptain, and Tetley and Brodrick, to manage internal affairs and to attend to complaints and suggestions from the players. Mr. MoClymonl had worked like a trojan, and, by his special talks, had maintained a most harmonious and optimistic spirit in the team. "But," concluded Mr. Redwood, "having seen these Australians, I feel that we have a terrific proposition to beat them. They are big and good, and the competition for places in their best* teams is amazingly keen with the wealth of talent always offering; but we are not down-hearted."