CEORCE NEPIA

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 182, 15 May 1939, Page 1

CEORCE NEPIA

COLO UR-F CL F ULLUACK GREAT FORM LATELY Considered one* of the greatest fullbacks of all time, the Mew Zealand footballer, George Mepia, is now a serious, threat, at the age of 34, to any full-back for'honours in the Mew Zealand League team which will tour England v He is younger than Jim Sullivan, the great English League full-back, who at 33 is still playing for Wigan, but Mepia is old, according to Mew Zealand standards, and to-day lie is the only one of the “invineibjes” on the footini It** field. Ili/en the great A. >E ! . Cooke had to retire in 1935 with a burst vein in the' thigh, ■ . * Alt' Black Tour „ in 1924 George Mepia came into prominence as a full-back, when he was tried .in that position by the Maori team selector, Air. Parata. 1n'1923 he had kicked his first- penalty for Hawke’s • Basv r against Wellington, when the Bay; won by 10 points to> six. Mepia was -.selected ns full-back for the 1924 All Hliick yt-our of England and achiovcul great lame by playing in every match. Back in Mew Zealand he plnyc-d for Hawke’s Bay and the Blast Coasts New Zealand in 1925, 1924, and 1930. Turned Over to League Mepia then turned over to League and spent some time in England. It was at this - time- that', many people considered the colourful " i lull-back was through" and-' could not be considered a top-notclier. Oil his return to Mow Zealand, Mepia exploded this idea. After fh-instatement to Rugby he became a threat for the custodian’s position ."in the 1935 team to England and there were many who considered that lie'should; ; . have made the trip. However, lie was.selected lor the Maori tour of Australia, and once more . n •• .. * a v v ' Vy • A- w.

played brilliantly. Back, in New Zealand lie turned! over to Rugby League again and lias since given polished performances ; one particular instance being against the Australian team which recently toured England. George Nepia. was supposedly “burned up” in 1931; it. was the same in 1936; and now they are making the same remarks again. goes serenely on, still .as good as any ,tS£ either code Dominion; ; if he is selected for ’ the New Zealand Lea gue team, as seems certain at present, he will get the position on merit" alone. Nepia flashed across the Rugby horizon at the age of 16. To-day at 34 he may. not- flash across -the hori'zciL but. he is and always will bef remembered! by followers of both codes a s one of the best full-backs we have ever seen in the Dominion, says a commentator in a prominent New Zealand paper.