“BOUGHT” FOR ENGLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23057, 7 December 1936, Page 11

“BOUGHT” FOR ENGLAND

FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLER DAVE BROWN'S RICH FEE (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Nov. 19. Dave Brown, Australia's Rugby League captain and outstanding three-quarter, who toured New Zealand with the Australian team last year, has accepted a four years' contract with the Warrington (England) Club. He will leave Sydney on December 1 to qualify for the Yorkshire Cup ties. Brown has accepted the best terms ever offered to an Australian Rugby League footballer. He is to receive £IOOO signing-on fee, £6 a match, win, lose, or draw, a position worth at least £3 a week, and return transport. At the beginning of the year the Leeds Club made attractive overtures to Brown, who refused them when the Rugby League Retention Committee assisted to keep him here for the test matches against the Englishmen. Brown said that the terms of the Leeds Club were better than those he had accepted from Warrington, but that he had been keen to play for Australia against the Englishmen here. "Now I feel I should safeguard my future," he said. " Not only will my four years' stay in England bring me a considerable financial reward, but will also assist me to gain business experience which will be valuable in later years when my football days are over. Quite frankly, I made the overtures to Warrington, and feel I was justified. I am capitalising what ability I have as a footballer while in my prime. It will be a blow to leave Australia, but four years is not a long time, and I consider the opportunities warrant the break. I have played in England, and know exactly what I am undertaking.

Many famous Australian footballers have preceded me, and I hope I can maintain the reputation they have established. Bill Shankland, a former Eastern Suburbs player, is captain of the Warrington team, and I should quickly feel at home there."

The Warrington Club is one of the most powerful in England. It has the great record of having defeated every touring Australian team. In addition to Shankland, three other Australians in D. Frawley, O'Malley and N. Hardy played with the club. The Warrington Club will have to pay £2OO to the Australian Board of Control, under the so-called " poaching " agreement. This sum will probably be passed on to Brown's club—Eastern Suburbs.

Australian Rugby League officials regard Brown's departure as a tremendous loss to Australian football, but they are unanimous in saying that Brown is wise to capitalise his ability. " Brown's acceptance of Warrington's offer comes like a bolt from the blue," said a member of the Retention Committee, " but I agree with the principle. Rugby League players are professionals, and are expected to do the best for themselves financially. There is more opportunity for footballers to make money in England. They cannot do it here in Australia owing to the club system of payment. Rugby League officials should see that our football organisation is rectified, so that we can pay the stars what they are worth. Dave Brown has been paid the same as a second-grade footballer who has been fortunate enough to secure selection in firstgrade for seven matches. His de-