League: Sheens warns 'garbage' will produce rugged final

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens. Photo / Getty Images

LEEDS - Coach Tim Sheens says the Kangaroos have been copping plenty of 'garbage' from opposing Four Nations teams and he has warned the final is likely to be a rugged affair.

With centre Justin Hodges sporting a suspected broken nose and backrowers Paul Gallen (neck) and Anthony Watmough (head) also the victim of dubious play, Sheens claims New Zealand and England have got away with plenty thanks to more lenient policing of the ruck than his players are accustomed to.

"There's been a bit of garbage in the games, and they're not used to that," said Sheens, when asked why his side had become flustered in two less than flattering performances against their major rivals.

"That's the situation ... there's been plenty of marks on their faces.

"There's been a little bit, from our boys' points of view: "Is that how it's going to be?"

"We have to understand that things are different here and you're not protected like you are in the NRL.

"The Kiwis have picked up on it straight away, and the conditions here and the interpretations allow for it a bit more."

Asked if the incidents were coming away from the play, Sheens said: "Not necessarily off the ball, but there's been a couple of incidents I'm unhappy with.

"There's been plenty extra in the tackle on the ground, and on contact ... not everything's been illegal, but there's been enough penalties.

"And we haven't been completely innocent either.

"I get a feeling that the final will be - I wouldn't use the word spiteful - but I think it's going to be a rugged affair."

While unhappy with the extra attention some of his players have been getting, Sheens said the situation had been made worse by officials controlling the game not allowing the players to seek medical attention.

At one point against England Watmough was penalised while concussed, English referee Steve Ganson pinging the backrower for deliberately slowing down the play as he took his time getting to a scrum.

A lifting tackle which saw Gallen dumped on his head and left the nuggety forward with a stiff neck went unpenalised - though the match review committee could still take action when it reviews the incident and a forearm to the head of Billy Slater by Lee Smith on Monday evening.

The injury doubts over the two backrowers and two centres - with Greg Inglis getting a knock on an old ankle injury - looks set to open the door for the final three Emus to get a run against France on Sunday (NZT).

Centres Michael Jennings and Josh Morris as well as halfback Cooper Cronk are all yet to be given a taste of the action, while game two omissions Sam Thaiday, Ryan Hoffman and Trent Waterhouse are also set for a recall.

Sheens said he had made it clear to the entire squad that places for the final - should they get there with a win over France - were far from decided.

"This game (against France) will have a bearing on that, because there are a number of players still in contention," Sheens said.

"It's not a foregone conclusion that last week's team will get an automatic start.

"The boys know that.

"The second half we dropped away. I made the point that there's still a game to play to decide the team that's going to play in the final."

- AAP