Rugby League: Dorahy attacks poaching

WIGAN are furious over an attempt by Auckland Warriors to poach two of their outstanding forwards. The New Zealand club's chief executive, Ian Robson, had talks with Andy Platt and Denis Betts during a flying visit to Britain which left the Wigan coach, John Dorahy, seething.

'I have always thought that there was a protocol and a way of going through the right channels, but that just hasn't been looked into,' he said.

The Warriors, coached by the former Wigan coach, John Monie, have already signed the Wigan captain, Dean Bell, to lead them into the Winfield Cup in 1995. They have also spoken to the game's top goalkicker, Frano Botica, and the young forward or centre, Barrie-Jon Mather.

'They haven't asked permission to approach players once,' Dorahy added. 'I regard that as the fault of Wigan's former coach, using his close relationship with the players.'

Platt's contract expires at the end of this season. He almost joined Parramatta at the start of last season and said at the time that he could be interested in playing in the Winfield Cup at a later date, but Wigan are offering him an extended contract and hoping to hang on to him.

Betts is contracted until the end of 1995, and Dorahy wants the Rugby League to complain to the Australian authorities about any attempt to poach players who are under contract.