THE LEAGUE CODE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1057, 22 August 1930, Page 7

THE LEAGUE CODE

THE New Zealand Rugby League footballers have evidently returned home w ith a keen appreciation of the high standard of football in Australia, but it would be unwise to slavishly imitate the characteristic features of a game which is more suit able on its hard, fast grounds. For years Australian teams in both Rugby and League have played the open-field game. It has its good points and its bad points, but its greatest weakness is that it is liable to crumple up against a team which plays “'close,” and bottles up the spectacular handling play by raking forward rushes and deadly tackling in the backs. Parkin's English League team proved that in 1928, and again last year the Australians, after winning the first Test, were battered into defeat in two of the subsequent games for the “Ashes.” No doubt, the game has gone back somewhat in New Zealand It was bound to, after the cream of the Dominion’s best players had been snapped up for professional engagements in England It will come back to its former high standard if it is carefully handled. And there is no need for professionalism to bring that about, even if it w r ere practicable. The first step is a reduction in the number of senior clubs. After that, the biggest effort must be made by the clubs themselves. A vigorous coaching policy, to be successful, however, must have the backing of the controlling body. There has been too great a tendency in recent years for players, wdio are not amenable to club discipline, to do as they like, under the threat that they will join some other club. Transfers are too readily granted. In future, the controlling body should make it clear that transfers are not to be had for the asking, and that a player must show some very good reason for wanting a transfer. All clubs should be strongly supported if they drop players for not attending practice, and the same applies to representative teams.