Pj Trades Blows But Fails In Jersey Swap

Newcastle Herald

Monday October 23, 2006

EDITED BY MICHAEL PARRIS

PETER Jensen might have won the battle on Friday night when he clobbered Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock at EnergyAustralia Stadium, but he lost the war after the game.

The Cessnock and Newcastle second-rower will long be remembered by fans after being cheered leaving the field to the sin-bin.

Jensen waved to the crowd and received the biggest cheer of the night as fans acknowledged the gulf between the part-time Newcastle players and the professionals from Great Britain.

Players upheld the tradition of swapping jerseys at the end of the match, but there were a couple of exceptions.

No one would swap with Jensen because the Brits felt his antics were over the top after he was heavily involved in both the brawls that broke out during the match.

"I think those Pommies have still got a problem with Aboriginals," he said when he returned to the home dressing rooms, and there were fits of laughter from all.

Lakes captain-coach Ian Bourke also got a few knock-backs because of his part in a few stoushes, so he asked Newcastle Rugby League general manager Jamie O'Connor to try his luck on his behalf.

O'Connor had no luck, but on the way back he borrowed one of the touch judge's shirts and told Bourke he had swapped his for that of referee Shayne Hayne.

The Newcastle players were told before swapping jumpers they would get a replica of the traditional blue representative strip.