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Brett Codlin came almost from nowhere to become an All Black fullback in 1980. Tall at 1.85m and with a solid boot, Codlin had played only four times for Canterbury in 1979, where he had been an agricultural student at Lincoln College, six matches on tour with New Zealand Universities and just once for Counties when called into the All Black trial in early May of 1980.
Codlin only made the starting lineups as a replacement for the unavailable Brian McKechnie. But he did enough in the trial at Hamilton to be chosen as one of the fullbacks alongside Canterbury's Richard Wilson for the tour of Australia.
Codlin only made the starting lineups as a replacement for the unavailable Brian McKechnie. But he did enough in the trial at Hamilton to be chosen as one of the fullbacks alongside Canterbury's Richard Wilson for the tour of Australia.
As Wilson had been chosen ahead of Codlin for Canterbury in the previous season and had played the end of season internationals against Scotland and England it was assumed he would be the test fullback in Australia and Codlin the understudy.
But New Zealand was going through a period of erratic selection and after scoring 20 points on debut against South Australia and following that with a sound display against New South Wales, Codlin was given the test nod.Codlin had another All Black trial in 1981, but by then was slipping quickly in national rankings with Rollerson, Allan Hewson, McKechnie and David Halligan all jumping ahead of him. However, he played competently through the 1981 season with Counties, scoring eight points in their 20-all Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato.
But New Zealand was going through a period of erratic selection and after scoring 20 points on debut against South Australia and following that with a sound display against New South Wales, Codlin was given the test nod.Codlin had another All Black trial in 1981, but by then was slipping quickly in national rankings with Rollerson, Allan Hewson, McKechnie and David Halligan all jumping ahead of him. However, he played competently through the 1981 season with Counties, scoring eight points in their 20-all Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato.