League: English quick to line up UK test

Monty Betham

The proposal for a Kiwis-Lions test in England in just 10 weeks came just two weeks ago.

A Kiwis side consisting primarily of players from Super League will play the full Great Britain side at Knowsley Rd on June 27.

News of the match comes as the England Rugby League and Super League bosses seek to enhance the value of their game and to prove that it is competitive with Australia and NZ.

It puts Great Britain on show at home in a year when all the Tri-Nations games are in Australia and New Zealand and assists the British with their preparation for that series.

The original idea was to play the Lions against a composite team of Australians and New Zealanders in Super League. Neither the New Zealand league, the Australian league nor the national coaches were enthusiastic.

Over Easter, the English league came back with a new plan to play an annual game against New Zealanders in Super League over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

The NZRL approved the idea of it starting next year. Then the English came back and said they had booked the St Helens ground and made broadcasting and other arrangements and could the Kiwis play at the end of June?

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) meets in Brisbane on Thursday week ahead of the Kiwis-Kangaroos test at Suncorp Stadium the next day and, given NZ and England's combined voting strength over Australia, the RLIF is expected to ratify the new arrangement and confirm an annual Kiwis-Lions mid-year test.

The first the NRL learned of the proposal was early last week after the Australian league was notified. Player availability issues are a given.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said he knew nothing of the proposal and couldn't comment.

But it seems he will not be losing half his team for two weekends.

Incoming NZ league chairman Sel Bennett accepted players in the Australian competition would be focused on performing for their teams and their franchises would be reluctant to let them go mid-season and at short notice.

"If we can get players out of the NRL we will. If we can't we aren't going to cry about it. I don't expect they will want to release their players."

Under RLIF rules, selected players must be made available five days out from a test.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan said he had faith there was sufficient talent in England to field a competitive side from England-based players. Other than that, McClennan said he had not thought about the June test. "I'm only thinking about May 5 [the Anzac test against Australia]."

McClennan and team managers Pat Carthy and Peter Leitch will be the only personnel going from New Zealand.

Bennett said the test would give McClennan "a better insight into the calibre of players in England".

"It will help build team spirit and competition for the test side for the Tri-Nations. Paul Rauhihi [Warrington prop] has already sent a text - 'count me in'." 


Talent in the old country

A Kiwis side of England Super League players could be:

* Motu Tony (Hull), Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Willie Talau, Francis Meli (St Helens), Thomas Leuluai (Harlequins), Stacey Jones (Les Catalans), Paul Rauhihi (Warrington), Richard Swain (Hull), Jason Cayless (St Helens), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds), David Solomona (Wakefield), Logan Swann (Hull); interchange from Iafeta Paleaaesina and Jerry Seuseu (Wigan), Joe Vagana (Bradford), Alex Chan (Les Catalans), Monty Betham (Wakefield), Willie Poching (Leeds), Vinnie Anderson (St Helens), David Vaeliki (Wigan), Henry Fa'afili (Warrington), Robbie Paul (Huddersfield).