British Colts halfback, Craig Murdock
AUSTRALIAN Schoolboys’ Rugby League coach, Bruce Wallace described the British Colts as the best overseas youth team to visit these shores, after Australia’s 15-8 win over the tourists at Seagulls’ Stadium, Tweed Heads, in the ‘Second Test’.
Wallace said the young Lions would be an even better side if they eradicated some of the niggling tactics from their game.Several Australian players complained of unwanted attention to the face in tackles, but Wallace said the match was a lot cleaner than the ‘First Test’ at Parkes, which Australia won 24-12.
After an emotional singing of ‘God Save the Queen’ around a Union Jack, the British youngsters fought to the end in hot conditions, with a field goal by Australian replacement back, Craig Carrington, six minutes from fulltime, allowing the first sighs of relief from the home team camp.
Halfback, Byron Hutton assumed the Australian captaincy, after Toowoomba’s Ben Walker hurt his shoulder in the first half. Walker scored Australia’s first try, in the third minute, but missed with three shots at goal.
Although Australia scored three tries to one, the British displayed more flair with the ball, and were unlucky not to have scored another two or three tries. As things transpired their only try – to centre, David Seeds – was an eight-point affair, with Lismore referee, Brian Grant ruling he had been fouled after putting the ball down.
A desperate diving tackle by winger, Colin Murphy, pushed British centre, Phil Hassan into the corner post when he seemed certain to score. (Murphy was already playing first grade football – for Windsor, in Sydney’s Metropolitan Cup).
Former Australian skipper, Wally Lewis rated British halfback, Craig Murdock the ‘best on the field by a mile’. “He has tremendous skill and a real mongrel dog attitide,” said Lewis.
“He reminds me a lot of (British Test halfback) Andy Gregory.”
British lock, Phil Hepworth and hooker, John Clarke also stood out, with Clarke described by coach, Andy Harland, as ‘the epitome of a British Lions’ hooker’. Harland said he was full of admiration for his players’ efforts, on and off the field, describing them as “a brilliant bunch of guys”.
Murdock, 19, was to join English glamour club, Wigan on his return home, after cementing a three-year deal before the tour. An apprentice electrician from Whitehaven in Cumbria, Murdock had been targeted by Wigan’s Australian coach, John Dorahy, who was looking to move Shaun Edwards from halfback to five eight eighth, with former All Black, Frano Botica to revert to fullback.
The son of a soccer player, and the grandson of a boxer, Murdock played representative soccer before deciding rugby league was his game.
Australian Schoolboys’ skipper, Walker, was only 16 in 1993 and had signed a two year deal with Brisbane Broncos. Ben’s father, Gary was a skilful second rower/lock for Norths and Brothers in Brisbane in the late 1970s, early 1980s.
The 1993 Australian Schoolboys’ side included future top grade stars such as Anthony Mundine, Adam Ritson, Solomon Haumono and Tonie Carroll.
Footnote: The Schoolboy International was a curtain raiser to the NSWRL First Grade match between Gold Coast Seagulls and North Sydney, a match won 46-16 by Norths. Gold Coast were coached by Wally Lewis and Norths by Peter Louis.
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Was there a prop from Harvey Bay high called Adam Nieto