All Golds

League historian hits out at All Blacks has-beens

A leading league historian says the original All Golds would be "turning in their graves" at the NZRL's decision to invite a series of guest players to appear in this year's celebratory game.

Bernie Wood, author of the recent history of the Kiwis, said he was "disappointed and dejected" that the NZRL wanted Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu to play in the game, which commemorates 100 years of league in New Zealand and the original Kiwi tourists.

"This game is to honour them (the All Golds) and remember what they did and the sacrifices they made on that pioneering tour and I believe they would all be turning in their graves, all 28 of them, at some of this nonsense that's being expressed by people who should be more responsible," Wood said.

"I implore the selectors to stick to the original arrangement and not denigrate this tour by calling in broken-down rugby union players like Spencer and Lomu."

Wood said the original proposal was for a team of past and present Kiwis, some British-based, plus one Australian guest who would represent the original 1907 Australian guest player Dally Messenger. That player is meant to be this year's Dally M medal winner. Wood said the new plan was turning the game into a "farce" and "devalued the Kiwis jersey".

Wood won support from John Haynes, author of the well-regarded All Blacks to All Golds now being reprinted in Britain in time for the tour, said he felt there was room for a single Dally M representative.

"To invite others would place in jeopardy the places of Kiwi representatives who have performed often more for love rather than money for the Kiwis and that might be something that was regrettable."

But Australia's leading historian, Sean Fagan, said inviting a handful of All Blacks might remind rugby union people of league's 100-year battle for "open" rugby.

"Now that rugby league has won that battle, why not illustrate exactly that point by inviting current All Blacks?" he said.

"If having three or four All Blacks in the 2007 teams helps to focus attention and to illustrate the reason why the All Golds and rugby league came into existence here a century ago, then that is a good move." ["It should also be noted that the 1907 All Golds included four members of the 1905 All Blacks RU team."]

And NZRL director of rugby Graham Lowe, while still not confirming any of the union stars approached were definitely going to play, refuted Wood's claims.

"I can't agree with Bernie that they are spinning in their graves. The whole first tour was about entrepreuneurial spirit as much as anything. Nothing much has changed: it is certainly not an end of year of trip for has-been rugby players, that's for sure."