League: Britain roll out their big guns

Brian McClennan

Sparks continued to fly between the Kiwis and Kangaroos, even as Great Britain prepared to touch down in Christchurch for their opening Tri-Nations encounter.

Kiwi coach Brian McClennan slammed his Kangaroo opposite Ricky Stuart for calling on the Tri-Nations to use only Australian referees rather than neutrals.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble has named a predictable line-up for the clash at Jade Stadium on Saturday night.

It contains nine survivors from the side which smashed New Zealand 38-12 in the Tri-Nations at Huddersfield in November.

Significantly, most of the big guns remain with the addition of dangerous halfbacks Sean Long and Danny McGuire. Europe-based Kiwis have pointed out Long as the British danger man.

The British side include controversial prop Adrian Morley, who was available because the tourists' warm-up match in Newcastle counted in his latest seven-match ban.

A British advance party of non-test players arrived yesterday, with the main group due in this afternoon. Noble has already sounded a "we won't be intimidated" warning, as the Kiwis are still brimming with confidence over the forwards effort against Australia.

Noble said: "We have size and athleticism ourselves and have to stand up and be counted."

The history of referee appointments in the tournament is haphazard.

Australia and Great Britain have used their own whistlers since New Zealander Glen Black was slated for his control of the Kangaroos and Lions match at Manchester early in the 2004 series.

The New Zealand Rugby League expects them to ignore Black again, although chairman Sel Bennett insisted the English-based Ashley Klein would officiate if it were a Kiwi-Kangaroo final.

McClennan hit out at Stuart, saying Black and Klein were up to the test task.

He defended referees in general, accusing Stuart of blatant self-interest and a lack of respect for international rugby league.

The Kiwis believe Australia's determination to get a referee who will use a "big" 10 metres is behind Stuart's comments.

"It's all self-interest with Ricky," said McClennan. "He's just out to win whatever way he can, trying to put pressure on Ashley Klein.

"We've all got to respect the international game, we've got to do better than that... I believe a New Zealand referee should be used for the Australia-Great Britain games.

"He [Klein] does things in a game that don't suit us, but you won't hear us complaining.

Australian Paul Simpkins - who was a controversial NRL grand final figure - will referee Saturday night's match.

McClennan said: "He did his best [in the grand final] and I'd defy anyone else to get out there and do what the referees have to do. I think they do a fantastic job. We need to back them."

Stuart was disappointed with "what we've been copping" from Klein, an Australian native, in the two tests against the Kiwis.

"There were a number of interpretations that were leaning towards the Kiwis more so than us getting a fair rub of the green," Stuart said.

"It's obviously very difficult for Klein refereeing two teams that were uncomfortable with different interpretations."

Stuart claimed that an early 5-1 penalty count against Australia put them on the back foot in Melbourne.

"We've got the best referees in the world in Australia," Stuart added.

"There's no bias amongst referees or officials today. You are looking at a final with the best two teams in the world; you've got to have the best officials. If those best are from Australia, so be it."


Jade Stadium, 8pm Saturday

Kiwis
Brent Webb, Tame Tupou, Nigel Vagana, Iosia Soliola, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki (c), Nathan Fien, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering
Interchange: Motu Tony, Nathan Cayless, Jason Cayless, David Fa'alogo. 18th man: Adam Blair.

Great Britain
Paul Wellens, Brian Carney, Martin Gleeson, Keith Senior, Leon Pryce, Danny McGuire, Sean Long, Stuart Fielden, Terry Newton, Adrian Morley, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis, Sean O'Loughlin
Interchange: James Roby, Garreth Carvell, Gareth Hock, Lee Gilmour/Jon Wilkin