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Rugby league marked it's centenary yesterday with a moving tribute to the pioneers of the game who organised the first international tour.
Rarely if ever has a team of so many of the game's heavyweights been assembled in one place, let alone a place as small as the chapel at Karori cemetery.
Burly players squeezed into suits, squashed shoulder-to-shoulder with the top administrators and coaches from Australia and New Zealand, past Kiwis and Kangaroos for a wreath-laying ceremony to honour 1907-08 tour organiser Bert Baskiville.
For the players and most others there, it was a lesson in courage and fortitude. Descendants of the 28 All Golds who played on the nine-month tour to Australia and England turned out with old photos, medallions and other memorabilia and told stories of how their fathers, uncles and grandfathers came to the team.
Wayne Bennett said it took him "about one second" to make up his mind to accept the position of 2007 All Golds coach for the commemorative game against the Northern Union next weekend. Australia and New Zealand were great sporting rivals but had always stood together in times of war and hardship.
"It's very touching," Bennett said after the service. "We don't do enough of this. I'm very humbled to be involved with marking the game's 100 years. I hope this message goes back home, we should be doing more than just playing football."
Bennett said it was through reading about the original All Golds tour that he had learned about the early game in Australia, the importance of men like J. J. Giltinan, who was first secretary of the New South Wales Rugby League, and gives his name to the shield awarded to the NRL's minor premiers.
"It was a remarkable tour, away nine months, no guarantees [of making a wage]. They had 29 guys and one manager. Today we have as many staff as there are players. I just can't believe the courage."
Bennett said his only disappointment was that Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer were not fit to play the game at Warrington next weekend. Both were very keen to take part, he said.
Bennett said he was proud of leading a side with so much football talent and he wanted to showcase those skills at Warrington.
"I want to entertain the people. Those players have some wonderful skills - it should not be like an NRL game although there will be a little bit of that."
The All Golds assemble in Leeds next Tuesday, Bennett unfazed by the short preparation time. "The thing I've picked up already is that there is a tremendous spirit and friendship amongst the players, they all enjoy each other's company and that's going to give us a kick-start."
All Gold captain Ruben Wiki said the chapel service and subsequent visit to Baskiville's grave had stirred the players' emotions.
Kiwis veteran Nigel Vagana said it "got me here," thumping his heart, when bagpipes played Amazing Grace. "It really brings home the respect for the dead, for these guys and what they did for the game."
Coach Gary Kemble said the players "were all shaking their heads afterwards saying 'I didn't know that'. It's great for them, they'll take this back to their families, their mates and other teams."
Prime Minister Helen Clark later hosted a parliamentary luncheon for the Kiwis and Kangaroos who meet at Westpac Stadium on Sunday plus the 2007 All Golds team and the descendants of the 1908 side.
Clark has long been patron of the Mt Albert club in her constituency and regularly turns up at the end-of-year prizegiving to hand out the juniors' awards.
"Last Sunday we both had very disappointed countries, this Sunday there will be just one," Helen Clark said.
The diners were treated to some recently discovered film from 1908 and 1914, the players from both countries silent and engrossed while it screened.
Former Australia Rugby League chairman Ken Arthurson, who as president of the international federation in 1991 had laid a plaque on Baskiville's grave, said those who drink the water should never forget those who dug the well.
The longest-serving Kiwis player in the 2007 team is centre Paul Whatuira, just 26. With two grand final wins under his belt - the first as a Penrith Panther, the second as a Wests Tigers - Whatuira is about to shift to Super League.
He was bowled over by the history lesson.
"Leaving your family behind for nine months to get a long boat trip to England on the off-chance of making some money - it makes you appreciate the deals we get today."
