League: Riled Bennett returns serve at Maitua and Mason

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Sel Bennett has fired the first Kiwi shots in the Tri-Nations battle, hitting out at Kangaroo star Willie Mason and new test lock Reni Maitua.

Pre-match fireworks have been hard to come by leading into Saturday night's match at Mt Smart Stadium. The Kiwis - mindful that they fell into distracting traps before this year's capitulation in Brisbane - are keeping a low profile this time around. Coach Brian McClennan has admitted he is trying to be more savvy in his media dealings.

The Australians have been fairly muted as well, especially compared with the Anzac test, which featured arguments over players' loyalties and pre-match promotions.

But Bennett was eager to lambast the Kangaroo and Bulldogs pair, who both have New Zealand links.

The Sydney-born Maitua, a late replacement for Kiwi/Kangaroo Tonie Carroll, came in for particular attention from Bennett.

"I found it very disappointing what he said, that he didn't even like the place [New Zealand]," said Bennett.

"He's Australian born, fair enough, and we like where we live and they like where they live. Each to their own.

"I heard what he said on radio, that he had been approached by the New Zealand selectors, and his preference was for Australia, and fair enough.

"But let's keep the mud slinging out of it. We speak the same language, we understand each other, the boys play in the same club teams. Let's keep the good spirit up."

The New Zealand chairman said he was upset at comments attributed to the Auckland-born Mason that if the Kiwis targeted the young Australian players "good luck, you'll get bashed".

Bennett said: "Willie's comments are over the top. We've got younger players as well and know the older ones protect the new players but there are different ways of doing it. Willie should be leading by example.

"I'm disappointed in what I heard from both players. We'd be pretty hot on any of our players if they said that. I would be very angry with them."

Meanwhile, Kiwi great Tawera Nikau dismissed comments made by Australian coaching icon Phil Gould, who claimed most of the Kiwis had short attention spans and low stamina.

Nikau said: "You could class those comments as an old stereotype but Phil Gould is playing the psychological game and everyone knows what he's like. I don't read much into his comments there."