Mills’s victims happy to meet him again

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 60

Mills’s victims happy to meet him again

By

JOHN COFFEY

John Greengrass and Mark , Broadhurst, the Canterbury (rugby league forwards who were victims of vicious assaults by Jim Mills, were not cowed by the vile treatment they suffered from the brutal Welshman.

i Both Greengrass and Broadhurst said yesterday that they would be prepared to pack down against Mills again, although the position in Greengrass’s case is now I hypothetical because he has retired from all football. There was a very real chance that Mills and Greengrass would have clashed again when their respective leagues were preparing for the 1977 World Cup tournament, but’ Mills subsequently withdrew for "personal reasons” which, it has since been disclosed, included a hernia operation. Greengrass has not changed his stance over the last two years: he supports the ban placed on Mills by; the New' Zealand Rugby League, questions the wis-i

dom of the British selectors in persevering with Mills, and expresses disgust at the tactics used by the Welshman. But he would not have shied away from another confrontation.

It was Mills’s unprovoked i action in stomping on the [prostrate Greengrass after I tlie New Zealander had [scored a try for the 1 Kiwis against Wales at Swansea ] during the 1975 world championship series that led to the N.Z.R.L. banning Mills from playing in this country or in any fixture involving a New Zealand team. ' A few months earlier Mills had been responsible! for John Pattinson (West. Coast) and Broadhurst hav-: ing to be taken from the field while playing for their provinces against the touring Welsh side. Pattinson and Broadhurst were required to be kept overnight in hospital for observation. “If I was still playing and Mills smacked me on the ear, it would be on; if he left me alone, I’d leave him!

alone,” Greengrass said. “Whatever happened. 1 would never use my boots on him in retaliation. “He might be big, but he is also bloody slow and nothing to tackle. There must be better props in Britain. Mills never seems to face up to anyone: he pre- i fers to get them from behind ; when they are not looking,"] Greengrass said.

i “There must be something (Wrong with British rugby I league if he is still playing after 19 orderings off. Anyone who had that sort of record in New Zealand would be out for life. “I was lucky in a way. i Mills jumped on the side of my head and all I needed was a few stitches; if he' kicked a player in the] temple it could be fatal,” (Greengrass said.

Broadhurst was only 20 years of age. when he was cut down by Mills at the Show Grounds, the incident occurring just a few minutes after the 1.92 m, 108 kg Mills had joined in the match as a replacement. The English Rugby League is likely to protest to the sport’s international board in (a bid to have Mills cleared Ito play in New Zealand.

Should it do so, the decision would rest with France (which has close ties with Britain) and Australia (whose chairman, Mr Kevin Humphryes, supported New Zealand in a similar situation in 1977. However, Mills has no restriction on his appearing on 'the Australian section of the [tour and the vote could conj ceivably swing in his favour. I Should New Zealand be

lover-ruled, Broadhurst might be faced with his assailant —either in the three-test series or when Canterbury meets Britain under floodlights on August 1. “Sure. I would take the field against Mills, but I would be looking over my shoulder a bit,” Broadhurst said. He has virtually no [memory of the karate chop I he received four years ago. ' “i did not feel anything until 1 woke up when 1 was being transferred from the Public Hospital to Princess Margaret Hospital. The! lights went out, and when they came on again I was looking at the trees in Hagley Park," Broadhurst said. “For months afterwards* there was a stiffness in my neck. Mills seems to know just where to find the nerves. My only reservation about his being allowed to| play is that he might try it on some other youngster,!

and the consequences could be more serious,” he said. The controversy is now deadlocked: The New Zealand Rugby League reaffirmed its ban on Wednesday evening; a few hours later its British equivalent was equally unwavering in its support of Mills’s selection.

British officials are adamant that Mills has served the suspension which followed his dismissal at Swansea for the attack on Greengrass. They contend that the incidents involving Broadhurst and Pattinson are not relevant, arguing that neither referee sent Mills off.

The Canterbury Rugb.v League has backed its national council by reiterating its stand that it has no wish to have Mills playing at the Show Grounds again —

where the second test is scheduled for August 5 — but it is likely that the international board will make the final, and binding, decision.