League: Kiwis team named a week early

It was Wayne Bennett who let the cat out of the bag.

Kiwis winger Jason Nightingale admitted he had to sit on news of his league test selection for six days until it was officially announced last night.

He got the shock of his life when he turned up to last Monday's training session and Bennett, who was Kiwis assistant coach in their World Cup win, tapped him and clubmate Jeremy Smith on the shoulder.

"I was pretty surprised actually, I didn't expect to find out that early, I thought we wouldn't have found out until Sunday," Nightingale said.

"Wayne told us to act surprised when Steve Kearney called us but it was good coming from our coach and someone who's had an involvement with the Kiwis."

Bennett opted out of the Kiwis' assistant role this year as he took over the St George-Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Nightingale kept a lid on his good news and got a further boost this morning when Bennett promoted him to the Dragons' starting side at fullback ahead of the injured Darius Boyd.

He had a strong game as the Dragons pipped the Warriors 12-11.

Nightingale was in the World Cup squad last year but had limited involvement. He made his Kiwis debut in the Anzac test a year ago but played just two more tests in 2008.

He said the challenge for the Kiwis this week in Brisbane was obvious.

"It was good to be part of that (World Cup), you could tell there was something special brewing and every session was fairly intense and everyone was committed to the cause.

"The trick this week will be getting over that, coming down from that high and building on that performance, looking to keep winning rather than a one-off and being happy with what's happened four months ago."

- NZPA