League: Swann delighted to be back for Kiwis

3.15pm - By ROBERT LOWE

LONDON - Logan Swann admits he thought his rugby league test career might have been over a year ago.

On Sunday morning NZ time Swann will line up for New Zealand against Australia in London in the second test of the tri-nations series.

It will be the Bradford forward's 26th appearance for the Kiwis, but his first since the 48-6 defeat to the Kangaroos in Sydney in July last year.

When he missed New Zealand's next test, the famous 30-16 upset over Australia in Auckland last October, he wondered if he would get back into international arena again.

"It probably was then that I realised it might be it for my test career," he said.

"Fortunately I've been included again and it's fantastic to be back in the frame. It's always great to catch up with these lads and to represent your country."

A former long-serving New Zealand Warrior who spent seven first-grade seasons at Ericsson Stadium before being released, Swann, 28, got his Kiwis recall after his first year in England.

He said it had been a mixed season with the Bulls, who are guided by new Great Britain coach Brian Noble.

He was hit by a knee ligament injury early on and then was put at lock instead of his preferred position in the second row on his return.

"I started with a hiss and a roar when we won the world club challenge against Penrith, but I picked up an injury and was out for a couple of months," he said.

"When I came back I was playing out of position. It was a matter of getting back into my position and getting combinations going with other members in the team. Once that started happening, the latter half of the season went quite well."

For Swann, settling into life in the north of England was helped by Bradford having such a large contingent of New Zealanders.

Apart from club skipper Robbie Paul, former Warriors Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape and Joe Vagana are also there.

"The way those lads took me on board and helped me out was like being back at the Warriors and playing with a team you've been with for five or six seasons," he said.

"It just felt comfortable being included in the side."

Swann has been joined by Paul and Vainikolo as the British-based players for the Loftus Road test on Saturday.

He believed the English domestic competition had made big improvements in recent years.

However, there remained a gap between the bottom sides and those at the top, like St Helens, Wigan, Leeds and Bradford.

"The big clubs have the money to get quality players from the National Rugby League, whereas the others struggle a bit," he said.

"The gap is still there, but it's closing."

Swann didn't watch last weekend's 16-16 draw between New Zealand and Australia in the opening tri-nations test, which kicked off just after 5am British time.

Bradford played Leeds in the Super League grand final later the same day, and "I needed my beauty sleep".

"I heard it was an awesome match," he said.

"The Australian media, being loyal to their own, wrote us off. The Australian players, I'm sure, would have been expecting a tough, physical game and they got that."

Swann described the atmosphere in the Kiwi camp as like being in a family.

"I was talking to Robbie Paul and I said to him, 'It doesn't seem like these boys have got any jetlag, they're jumping around and bouncing off the walls'."

- NZPA