Rugby League: Ngamu facing test of self-belief

By Peter Jessup

Recalled Kiwi Gene Ngamu agrees he has plenty to prove when he comes off the bench against Great Britain at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow night.

Not to fans or talkback callers who have questioned his ability, not to coaches, the opposition or team-mates.

"I have to prove it to myself," said Ngamu, whose replacement of injured halfback Stacey Jones is the only change Frank Endacott has made to his starting 17.

Ngamu, aged 27 and with 20 tests, had his worst season this year, with formerly unexplained cramping in his calves due to an undiagnosed restriction of blood flow, consequent loss of form, and a mid-season operation when the problem was diagnosed.

He had a few games for the Warriors at the start of the season but was released by the end, and pursued his fortunes with Huddersfield in England.

His five games at Huddersfield proved enough to convince the Giants' management that he should be signed for a further two years.

And on Monday, he had a surprise call from Endacott, checking his fitness, willingness and attitude to playing in the Tri-Series.

There was no question. On the first factor, Ngamu said, the tighter interchange rules in Super League meant he had had 80-minute games. He would always wear the black jersey if good enough and asked. And as to Endacott's invitation - "I have a lot to repay him."

Ngamu does not say it, but he is nervous. He slotted straight back into a sharp Kiwi training session at Ericsson Stadium, a ground he did not think he would play on again after four years with the Warriors.

Endacott said: "We're not taking them lightly. I thought they had the better of the first half [in the 6-42 loss to Australia last Friday] and the Aussies got their tries when Betts was sent off.

"It was 10-6 most of that half and Great Britain were the ones looking like scoring. And they'll be better for that run."

Endacott said that with the Paul brothers' combination in the halves improving daily he did not think New Zealand would lose a lot without Jones.

He had stuck with the same side, apart from the enforced change, because "I had to reward the players who did the job against Australia - it would have been an injustice to leave any of those jokers out."

Robbie Paul said they wanted to win the match for Jones and prove they could win it without him.

"It's a matter of proving ourselves - look around, there are some great players here, grand final players," Paul said.

He accepted that Jones was a different player, saying: "I like to float more, step more. Stacey has that great thing with Steve Kearney and the work he does around the rucks - I'm trying to emulate his combos and run mine too."

He and Henry Paul combined at Bradford all season as Nos 6 and 7 "and made the grand final, should have won it, you have to be happy with that [form]."

Asked for a prediction, Paul said "We respect them. The way we'll respect them on Friday is go out and play our hardest and best.

"There's heaps of enthusiasm, youth and experience, it's a great team and we have the right make-up to do the job."

Great Britain arrived last night to an Auckland temperature well down on that at the Gold Coast resort they had been enjoying.

They train at Ericsson Stadium at 5pm today, with three changes to the 17 against Australia. St Helens second-rower Chris Joynt is recalled, so they have only two specialist props in Laughton and Irishman Barrie McDermott.

That means Adrian Morley is likely to be pressed into front-row service as he was against Australia, shortening their attack. Paul Sculthorpe (calf), Paul Anderson and Anthony Sullivan (knees) were not considered.