League: Lauitiiti eager to get back in black

LEEDS - Ali Lauitiiti is looking forward to the prospect of pulling on the Kiwi jersey for the first time in more than a year.

Lauitiiti had his first run with the New Zealand squad this week since he joined them in Leeds before their key Tri-Nations match against Great Britain at Huddersfield this weekend.

"It's great to get together with the boys again," he said.

"I've trained pretty hard to keep my fitness up."

The last of Lauitiiti's 11 caps was in October last year, when he was part of the Kiwis' memorable 30-12 upset of the Kangaroos in Auckland.

Lauitiiti, 25, said he had settled in well in the north of England and was pleased with the start to his 2 1/2-year contract with the Rhinos, who won this year's Super League title against Bradford.

"The guys have been really supportive and it was awesome to make the grand final," he said.

Commentators have suggested that the more open style of the English game suited Lauitiiti, once dubbed "the Michael Jordan of rugby league".

The second-rower agreed that he probably did have a greater chance to show off his skills than in the more defence-minded NRL.

"Both competitions are tough, but in some areas NRL is more in your face. Super League is more expansive.

"They like to throw the ball around and go wide. It's an exciting type of football."

Lauitiiti has won over critics and fans in his short time in England, where he has started some matches for the Rhinos and come off the bench in others.

He was selected in this year's Dream Team compiled by English league writers, while Ali masks have become a feature of Leeds' crowds.

Despite the controversial nature of his departure from the Warriors, for whom he made his first-grade debut in 1998 as a 19-year-old, Lauitiiti still has a soft spot for the club.

"I still support them and watch them on TV and miss the boys."

Lauitiiti is sure to figure in Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson's plans to put a greater onus on his experienced players on Saturday.

"Probably in the first two games versus Australia we relied on our youth a little bit too much - instead of letting them complement the team, they probably dictated," Anderson said.

"We placed a fair amount of pressure on Sonny Bill Williams, Thomas Leuluai, Louis Anderson and Brent Webb.

Those four boys had a huge influence on our fortunes. I'd like them to be complementary to everyone's performance. We'll be looking for a big input from our senior players."

One of the experienced brigade, Robbie Paul, has said he was unhappy with his own form in the 32-12 loss to Australia at Loftus Rd in London.

Paul believed the test was one of his worst in a Kiwi jumper and vowed there would be no repeat.

Anderson said he had had a couple of senior players tell him they were disappointed at how they had gone, but he added that no players were ever at their best all the time.

"They do have the occasional game where they are off for a little bit.

"These players, because of their experience and because they have had bad games before, know what to do to ensure that, in the next game, they are back on top again."

Anderson gave little away about the likely line-up for the test, putting different combinations through their paces.

"Everyone who is in camp is in contention," he said, adding that the non-test players had shown plenty of enthusiasm in the Anzac match against Cumbria last week.

"I don't think there is a player who can rightly say he's got no chance."

Bradford winger Lesley Vainikolo, who was among the tryscorers at Loftus Rd, is unavailable after his club recalled him for surgery.

Anderson described the performance of Great Britain in their last-gasp 12-8 defeat by Australia as impressive for a team making their entry into the tournament.

"I thought they showed a fair amount of character in their first game," he said.

"They've got quality and a lot of class in key positions and I think they would probably be better for the run."

He added that the Lions looked the biggest side in the Tri-Nations, with size in the backs as well as in the forwards, who were also mobile.

He cited players such as Andy Farrell, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis and Paul Sculthorpe as being "very good movers, athletic individuals who have all got a bit of ball play about them".

- NZPA