League: Hape pushing for test berth

LEEDS - Uncapped centre Shontayne Hape hopes his inclusion in the one-off Anzac match this week will propel him into firm reckoning for a Kiwis test jumper.

The fixture against Cumbria at Workington, in north-west England, on Thursday is a chance for players in the New Zealand and Australian tour squads who have sat out the Tri-Nations tests to get a run.

Hape was ruled out of contention for the tournament opener against Australia in Auckland on October 16 because he was involved in the Super League grand final that weekend.

He then got called up with three of Bradford's other New Zealanders into the Kiwis squad to tour England and France, but missed selection for the test against the Kangaroos in London on Sunday.

"All the guys who didn't play are looking for a bit of a hit-out and to push for test spots in the games against Great Britain," he said yesterday.

"I'm hoping I can get my first test match under my belt on this tour."

Hape said the Australians were as eager as the New Zealanders to turn out for the Anzac side and he saw no problems with the players gelling immediately.

"For the guys in the NRL, it will be like normal.

"I was talking on Saturday to a few of the Aussie guys, such as Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill, Ben Kennedy, and they're all really keen on playing."

Hape, 23, joined Bradford last year after being unable to establish himself at the Warriors, where his final season was cut short by injury.

Since arriving in the north of England he has formed a formidable partnership with Kiwi winger Lesley Vainikolo.

This season, the pair scored a staggering 67 tries down Bradford's left flank, with Vainikolo getting a Super League record of 39.

Hape's own tally of 28 tries was achieved despite being sidelined for six weeks with a broken arm.

He said Bradford's left-hand side was the more dominant on attack, and it was the players that he and Vainikolo had around him, including Kiwis Logan Swann and Robbie Paul, who had a key role.

"Guys such as Logan, Iestyn Harris and Robbie should take a lot of the credit.

"They put us into holes and we just finish off."

Apart from supplying four players to the Kiwi tour party, Bradford also have five in the Great Britain squad. The club coach, Brian Noble, is also the Great Britain coach.

Hape therefore has a good insight into how New Zealand might fare in the two Tri-Nations tests against the British, who he said were seriously rating their chances of winning the tournament.

"I think Great Britain and us will go right down to the wire," he said.

"I know the Great Britain boys and they're really looking forward to the challenge. They're going out there with the aim of winning this competition."

- NZPA