SYDNEY - Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith has heightened transtasman rugby league tensions ahead of the centenary test on Friday by labelling the Kiwis "rude" for turning up late to a World Cup launch.
Coach Stephen Kearney, captain Roy Asotasi and non-playing squad members David Kidwell and Lance Hohaiaarrived about 30 minutes late, just before the end of the launch at the Sydney Opera House today.
A year ago, Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart blasted counterpart Brian McClennan for snubbing the tournament launch during Brisbane test week, but this time Smith fired the shots.
"It's not rude to us but it's rude to the international game because we're trying to promote the World Cup and we feel it's important to keep trying to promote the international game," Smith said.
"From the Australian point of view it doesn't really bother us with the preparation and what not (for the test), but it's a bit of a shame."
The Australian Rugby League (ARL) promoted today's launch as the start of a 170-day countdown to the tournament in October.
Kearney, an assistant coach of Smith at the Melbourne Storm, was quick to apologise but said team preparation came first.
"We trained at Moore Park and we were supposed to leave from Moore Park to come to the function," Kearney said.
"But we decided we'd go home and put the boys through recovery first, which is a very important process, and then obviously we've arrived late.
"We wanted to be here for the launch but it was very important our players make sure they recover well.
"We're sorry we let everybody down."
A year ago, McClennan suggested the ARL had sprung the launch on his players, thereby disrupting their training schedule.
He sent non-playing squad members and New Zealand Rugby League officials instead.
Stuart was hardly annoyed by Kiwis' `snub' this time around.
"The New Zealand boys were training and it's very difficult to fit it all in," he said.
"It's a short week and there's a lot of appearances, a lot of media and promotion of the game for the players.
"Getting everyone at the one venue at the one time is difficult."
Asked whether he was upset, a smiling Stuart said: "It takes a lot to get my back up."
Photos: Transtasman test - 10 to watch