KEY POINTS:
New Zealand halfback Thomas Leuluai has hit back at the Kiwis' critics during their rugby league series whitewash by Great Britain.
The Wigan star said many underestimated the quality of the British and failed to acknowledge the Kiwis would struggle to replace Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana.
Gary Kemble's inexperienced squad has come under fire after being outclassed by the hosts, who won 28-22 on Sunday (NZ time) to seal a clean sweep after recording a record 44-0 win in the second test.
But Leuluai believed a series defeat was inevitable given the number of senior players unavailable through injury or retirement.
"I don't really care what people say," he said.
"They can bag us all they like but people who know New Zealand rugby league knew this was going to happen sooner or later, it was always coming.
"You take eight players out of the Great Britain team and tell me if they'll be as good, you know. We've got young guys on tour who are 18 and it's good experience for them but we're copping the brunt of it and it's tough.
"It's a time for rebuilding and I'd rather it happened this year than next year in the World Cup."
Great Britain coach Tony Smith said the Kiwis should have given his side more credit rather than pointing to the absence of key players and Leuluai agreed that many in New Zealand were complacent about facing the British.
Leuluai was in the Kiwis side who toured the United Kingdom for the 2004 Tri-Nations and failed to reach the final despite featuring the likes of Wiki, Vagana, Brent Webb and Sonny-Bill Williams.
And the 22-year-old, who has now spent three years in Super League, warned even before the series that the British are a major force.
"I think people (back home) should have done a bit of research," he said.
"Britain are no mugs, especially at home.
"I came here in 2004 and we had a good team, with big-name, experienced players, and it was hard even then.
"I know a lot of people are saying, 'it's just the Poms, it's not the Aussies'.
"But they've got some world-class players. I've always rated them and in the second test they beat us like a world-class team should."
Leuluai agreed New Zealand had now slipped to third in the international pecking order but was confident the series will stand the fledgling Kiwis in good stead and help some new leaders to emerge.
"This could be a good thing for New Zealand rugby league," he said.
"I don't think we're where Great Britain are, but the young players will learn from the tough times and learn how to cope with the expectations.
"Test footy is different to club footy and I learned that when I first came in, it's very tough mentally and physically. I was lucky to come in with the likes of Ruben and Stacey, they guided you through it.
"You need experience when times are tough, like when they scored from their first set in the second test. We were all looking at each other and we all need to step up, so it's a learning curve for us."
The Kiwis round off their European tour with a one-off test against France in Paris on Sunday (NZT).
- NZPA
