League: Tapping into a legacy of self-belief

Wayne Bennett instilled self confidence in players such as Bronson Harrison at last year's World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

The ghost of Wayne Bennett still walks with the Kiwis.

The Aussie master coach may not be in camp this year as he concentrates on resurrecting the Dragons' fortunes in the NRL, but Bennett's work with the side in 2008 still sticks strongly in their minds.

Among other things, Bennett gave the Kiwis World Cup squad a belief in itself and a belief the team could beat the Kangaroos, not just once but on a regular basis.

He assured the players they had the individual skills and collective talent and then set about instilling a defensive cohesion that meant they were not demoralised by runs of quick tries from the Australians, as has happened so often in the past.

When the Kiwis run out on to the field at Suncorp Stadium tonight in front of what will be a largely Australian crowd they will have a faith in themselves and in the man beside them to make their tackles.

That has not always been the case in these test matches and in the past the lack of communication among the backs and sliding defence that resulted in two defenders being attracted to the same ball-carrier have proved fatal.

So has the Aussies' pace.

This time around the Kiwis are better served for speed with the likes of Sam Perrett and Jason Nightingale in the side, but they will still be slower than the Kangaroos out wide.

They will not enjoy the same depth nor accuracy in their kicking game that the Kangaroos halves Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer can deliver. So it is critical that they do produce a good kick-chase to take as much advantage from the ground-gain of punts as they can.

As is often the case, it is up front where the Kiwis may have the ability to dominate via some devastating hits in defence, as well as power line breaks by the faster backrowers. Support play is crucial - the Kiwis will not get many chances and cannot afford to let any go begging through lack of support.

The Aussies should also enjoy a gain in goal-kicking as Thurston is an 83 per cent kicker whereas the Kiwis will rely upon Benji Marshall, who hits around 78 per cent.

It is Marshall - a perhaps surprising choice of captain - upon whom the result may rest. At his best he is unstoppable. At other times he can provide little but sideways movement.

Though he has chosen to play at halfback ahead of five-eighth where he might have enjoyed more space, that might be a good decision given his uncanny ability to slip tackles in traffic and leave the defenders groping at each other with his ducks, dives and goose-steps. When he goes the backrowers and centres need to go with him.

Leadership counts for much and the Kiwis have just the one NRL captain on the field in Roy Asotasi, who leads Souths, while the Aussies have seven - Steve Price from the Warriors, Cam Smith (Melbourne), Paul Gallen (Sharks), Luke Bailey (Titans), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Thurston (Cowboys) and Lockyer (Brisbane).

The New Zealanders have a young side, the Aussies a 50/50 mix including two props aged 34 and 35, while Asotasi is 29 and Adam Blair just 22. How will the balance between experience versus youthful enthusiasm and stamina pan out?

Perhaps most important in the selection of the two sides is the choices the respective camps have made from a form point of view.

The Kiwis have chosen only players at their peak this season who have appeared in most games in 2009. And hence the likes of Steve Matai who has been troubled by a neck and shoulder problem this season as he was the last has been left out, presumably because the coaching staff are fearful of having to play on with a reduced number on the bench if injury strikes.

Meanwhile the Kangaroos have included three of the World Cup losing team from the Sea Eagles, in very poor shape in 2009. They've also gone for Paul Gallen, who has played four games and been suspended for three, Steve Price and Luke Bailey, who sat out two games injured last month, and Darius Boyd who has done the same more recently, plus Billy Slater who turned his ankle in training this week and may turn out to be a liability.

The NRL produced statistics last week that showed that Anthony Watmough is the worst defender of all the forwards in the NRL and only three halfbacks are missing more tackles than him.

The Kangaroos are banking on the big arena of the test match in front of a rabid Aussie crowd to lift World Cup failures like Watmough to new heights. That may or may not work.

As usual, the Australians start as heavy favourites, not least due to the fact they play in front of a home crowd. This is the 10th Anzac game and all bar one have been across the Tasman because of the greater return to the New Zealand Rugby League via the larger gate.

The situation is unlikely to change while crowds on this side remain so fickle, just 14,000 turning out at Mt Smart for the last visit by the Kangaroos whereas Suncorp has been a sellout in 2007 and 2008 and 35,000 tickets had sold by yesterday.

Interestingly, more Australians have started turning out to watch the Kiwis since their team starting losing, or looking close to it, on a more regular basis since the 2005 Tri Nations.

ANZAC TEST
* Australia v New Zealand
* Suncorp Stadium Brisbane, 10pm