League: Kiwis get a feel for Telstra Dome

Roy Asotasi

The Kiwis venture into Melbourne's Telstra Dome for the first time today.

New Zealand has a run through before tomorrow night's second Tri-Nations rugby league clash against Australia.

Prop Roy Asotasi says it is a first for him under a closed roof. Asotasi says he has not been to the ground before, and has not even seen it, so he is looking forward to today's session. He says they are not buying into Australia's trash talk this week, preferring to stay focused on the task at hand.

Nathan Fien's inclusion on the Kiwis bench for tomorrow does bring into question what Willie Mason will say to him during the haka,

Ex-pat Australian Brent Webb copped a serve last week, and the fact Fien's grandmother is from Wanganui is not likely to save him from a mouthful come game time.

Asotasi says Fien is coming to grips with the pre-game routine. Asotasi roomed with Fien in Auckland last week and tried to pass on some tips, and Fien is likely to go his own way and "go hard."

The Kangaroos won the opening match of the Tri-Nations, beating the Kiwis 30-18 last weekend at Auckland's Mount Smart stadium.

With Australia not yet on daylight savings time, the match tomorrow starts quite late for the New Zealand audience - 11.00pm NZT.

- NEWSTALK ZB