League: Lauitiiti keen to play in Tri-Nations

11.00am - By ROBERT LOWE

Star league forward Ali Lauitiiti wants to turn out for the Kiwis in this year's Tri-Nations tournament, manager Frank Endacott said today.

The New Zealand Rugby League was last week uncertain about Lauitiiti's availability because of personal reasons.

The Leeds forward is due to visit his in-laws in the United States after the end of the British Super League season and he was understood to want to return home after that to see his own family.

The Tri-Nations begins with a trans-Tasman test in Auckland on October 16, with the rest of the tournament being staged by hosts Great Britain.

Endacott, speaking from England, said he spoke yesterday to Lauitiiti, who was keen to play for the Kiwis in the matches in Britain.

"He sounded pretty keen about it and I'm sure he'll be lining up," he said.

"He'll be available for the English side of things, which is all the test matches but the one in Auckland."

Endacott said Lauitiiti had made the commitment to go to the US some time ago.

That trip would be for only a couple of weeks, after which he would return to England if picked for the Tri-Nations, before heading to New Zealand for Christmas.

Endacott -- who has coached the Kiwis, the New Zealand Warriors and Wigan -- is in the middle of a five-week stint acting as a coaching adviser for struggling Widnes.

He described Lauitiiti's form for Leeds, whom the player joined on a 2-1/2-year contract after his sudden departure from the Warriors in April, as being first rate.

"I think the word really would be outstanding," he said.

"He is playing the best he played. They absolutely love him at Leeds. He's got a cult following. They have Ali masks everywhere in the stands."

Endacott dismissed talk of Lauitiiti being homesick in the north of England.

"That couldn't be further from the truth," he said.

"He and his wife came over to our place a couple of weeks ago for a cup of tea and, I tell you what, they are very, very happy over here."

Leeds are runaway leaders at the top of the Super League with two rounds of the regular season to go.

The league's grand final is on the same day as the New Zealand-Australia Tri-Nations opener at North Harbour Stadium.

- NZPA