League: Kiwi winger keen to dispel 'one-hit wonders' tag

Jake Webster

SURFERS PARADISE Queensland - If the Kiwis come up trumps in the Anzac rugby league test on Friday night, Jake Webster will rate it a bigger achievement than securing the Tri-Nations title.

Webster played in every game of the New Zealand's Tri-Nations campaign last October and November, including the 24-0 whitewash of Australia in the final in Leeds.

But the Melbourne Storm winger said the rematch between the sides in Brisbane on Friday night was assuming even more significance.

"I think it's more important because we set the benchmark last year and we can't rest on our laurels," he said.

"We have to take it to the Aussies again and show we're not one-hit wonders. We have to prove to the world we can do it again and that it wasn't a fluke."

The Melbourne-born Brisbane-raised Webster also said he was looking ahead with greater anticipation to the clash at Suncorp Stadium than when he gained six previous caps.

"I was lucky to be picked for the Tri-Nations, but I've never been in this situation before, playing a one-off test," he said.

"I'm really excited, probably more excited now than about the tour last year."

Webster was one of the finds of that tour.

He made his test debut in the opening Tri-Nations test, the 38-28 win over Australia in Sydney, getting his call-up when Sydney Rooster centre Iosia Soliola had to withdraw through injury.

He went on to be an ever present in the black jersey.

As well as the tests against Australia and Great Britain, his appearances against England A and France made him the only player to turn out in all seven of the Kiwis' end-of-year fixtures, and he scored six tries in the process.

This year, Webster, 22, has had a disrupted start to the National Rugby League season.

He missed two matches last month with a hamstring strain, but he has been in scoring form since his return two rounds ago.

He grabbed a try in the Storm's 52-6 thrashing of Newcastle, then notched up a double last weekend in the 24-10 over St George Illawarra.

Three touchdowns in two outings amounts to a good tune-up for a test, and Webster said he was fully recovered from his injury.

His wing partner this week is expected to be test debutante Tame Tupou.

Coach Brian McClennan said the Brisbane Bronco reminded him a lot of the player he was replacing, injured New Zealand Warrior Manu Vatuvei.

Both were big and had speed, and like Vatuvei, a two-try hero in the Tri-Nations final, Tupou, 23, could be on the verge of making a name for himself on the international stage.

"He's in the same mould as Manu Vatuvei," McClennan said.

"We took Manu last year from obscurity, really. I can't see why Tame can't do that. I can't see what can hold him back."

- NZPA