Kiwis welcome Aussie tests ref

LEEDS - The Kiwis are relieved that Australian referee Steven Clark will officiate in their three-test series with Great Britain next month after differing English interpretations caused some confusion in their tour opener at Hull.

Hooker Richard Swain, a second-half replacement for Monty Betham, said the English tendency for markers to stand side by side at the play-the-ball was foreign to the Kiwis and limited the dummy-half's ability to spark attacks by providing a double obstacle.

In the Australian NRL, markers are penalised if they stand parallel, but Swain said the Hull match on Wednesday and the Super League grand final illustrated the different interpretation in England.

"The markers are split and it's a big impediment when you're trying to work around the dummy-half area and get a quick play-the-ball.

"It would be penalised for sure in Australia and New Zealand, but Steve Clark is reffing the series so you won't be seeing it," Swain said.

However, St Helens are expected to continue the same tactic in the Kiwis' second tour match tomorrow, and Swain said the onus was on the tourists to work around the barrier.

Swain expected the Kiwis to provide a more polished performance than their error-prone opener, which eventually saw them power away in the second spell to a 28-11 victory.

The Kiwis were perplexed by some rulings by referee Robert Connolly, but the Englishman also incurred the wrath of the Hull fans, who believed the Kiwis were deliberately slowing the play-the-ball by flopping on the ball-carrier to prevent quick recycling.

Ultimately the penalty count was 7-6 in Hull's favour.

However, former Kiwi wing Sean Hoppe warned the Kiwis that referees in their non-test games might take a dim view of the tourists' tackling technique.

"You can get away Down Under with lying in the tackle and slowing the ball down, but the Kiwis will find if they muck around here and slow the play-the-balls down, they'll be penalised.

"The refs here are strict to open the game up a bit more."

The Kiwis will be refereed by Russell Smith when they play St Helens tomorrow. He is the English No 1 who copped widespread criticism for his control of last weekend's Super League grand final won by Saints 19-18 over Robbie Paul's Bradford.

His decision not to penalise St Helens captain Chris Joynt for a voluntary tackle in the dying seconds sparked ugly scenes, with Bradford hooker James Lowes verbally abusing Smith before being led away by team-mates.

A offside penalty decision against Bradford which enabled Saints to level the scores at 18-18 also appeared harsh.

The Kiwis' second tour match, while important as coach Gary Freeman ponders his top line-up ahead of the opening test, on November 9 in Blackburn, appears to have been taken lightly by St Helens, whose players are still recovering from the excesses of their post-title celebrations.

They were to attend a supporters' club bash last night and expected to train later than normal today to compensate.

Hoppe will captain St Helens in his last game for the club before retirement.

The Kiwis will be named after training today. They had a leisurely day yesterday after a pool recovery session.

- NZPA