League: Perrett ready to step up to fill big boots of Vatuvei

Sam Perrett is concerned about Manu Vatuvei's broken arm, but says he'll be proud to wear the Kiwis jersey. Photo / Getty Images

Sam Perrett will take being tasked with stepping into Manu Vatuvei's giant boots the same way he took being dropped for the Kiwis' hard-fought but dull victory over England on Saturday.

He'll accept the news and get on with the job. No mess, no fuss.

"I'm just happy to be in camp, happy to be here with the team and I'll just fit in where I can," he said. "If they need me to do something, I'll be there."

They will need him. Moments after Saturday's important but underwhelming win over a gritty but limited England, coach Stephen Kearney nominated Perrett as the man to help soften the blow of Vatuvei's loss for the rest of the tournament with a broken arm.

More concerned about Vatuvei, Perrett merely nodded at the news.

"It's tough for Manu. He's a really big force for us and we are really going to miss him and everything he brings to our team," said Perrett. "But any time I can chuck on that jersey is a proud and memorable moment."

Perrett believed he had improved significantly playing under Roosters coach and England assistant Brian Smith this season.

Losing a grand final to the Dragons had taken him about as long to get over as finding out he had lost his test place to conqueror Jason Nightingale.

"I was pretty disappointed that whole day and to be honest that was me," he said of the loss to the Dragons. "I am not one to hang on to any mistakes because you really shorten your career and your life if you do."

Kearney was noncommittal about whether he would adopt the same approach as last year's tournament and field his strongest side against minnows Papua New Guinea in Rotorua on Saturday.

Last year he fielded all his key troops against France and paid the price in injuries. The team that played England the next week looked tired and flat. Kieran Foran played out of position and the Kiwis lost, with a place in the final eluding them.

"It is a matter of seeing how the group pull up," Kearney said. "Last year's squad is a lot different ...

"You look at the blokes who didn't play, like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sika Manu and Sam Perrett, it is a lot different to the group we took away last year. They wouldn't have looked out of place [on Saturday night]. We'll see how things turn out after medicals and we'll make a call on that early this week."

Simon Mannering, who shifted out to centre when Vatuvei's arm broke inside two minutes, said the Kiwis would not be able to let up against the Kumuls in preparation for the tougher Kangaroos the next week.

"[But] I don't think you can really take your foot off it at all. [The Kumuls] will have everything to play for. They will be bringing their best and if we are off by a little bit they will make us pay.

"They are a very physical team, a team that is willing to try anything so they definitely test you out."

Kearney was hardly overwhelmed with Saturday's 24-10 victory.

The Kiwis scored early through standout Junior Sa'u despite Vatuvei's loss and tacked on tries either side of halftime to extend to an 18-0 lead.

After looking clueless in attack for 50 minutes, England hit back with two tries in two minutes and almost had a third when Kevin Brown grounded spectacularly only to have his try ruled out for a push on Greg Eastwood.

Moments later Kiwis captain Benji Marshall finished a swift break to seal the victory.