League: Test debut boosts Lolesi's season

1.00pm - By ROBERT LOWE

LEEDS - New cap Jamaal Lolesi will get some consolation for missing the Bulldogs' National Rugby League grand final triumph through injury when he runs out for the Kiwis against France this week.

Lolesi, usually a three-quarter, has been given the role of fullback for the one-off test at Carcassonne, in the south of France, on Thursday (Friday morning NZT).

He will be joined in the ranks of new Kiwis by hooker Dene Halatau, prop Alex Chan and lock Wairangi Koopu.

Lolesi, who has just finished his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from Canberra, said he was happy to wear the No 1 jersey, despite not having played much at fullback.

"I had a few cracks at it in the lower grades," he said.

"It's a something I've been handed the chance to do and I'll look to do it the best I can."

Lolesi's other match on tour so far has been in the Anzacs' 64-12 win over Cumbria a fortnight ago.

He said making his test debut was something he had targeted since he suffered an ankle injury in early August.

The mishap occurred during the Bulldogs' 36-16 home win over North Queensland and resulted in him being sidelined from the Sydney club's playoff campaign.

"With my injury at the end of the season, my thoughts were aimed at getting a test spot and I pretty much had the France game pencilled in," he said.

"It will be good to get the first one out of the way."

Lolesi, 23, said the disappointment of sitting out the Bulldogs' victory over the Sydney Roosters in the premiership decider was balanced by the way he was included in the celebrations.

"It's the pinnacle of the sport to play in the grand final, so it was heartbreaking to miss it, but there was not much I could do," he said.

"When the boys won it, they made me feel every part of it as the players who played in the game."

A further consolation for Lolesi will be a probable appearance for the Bulldogs in the world club challenge against English Super League champions Leeds at Elland Road in February, when he can expect to come up against test teammate Ali Lauitiiti.

In the meantime, he planned to use the match against France to press for a berth in the tri-nations clash against Great Britain at Hull on November 20, which is the last round of the pool phase of the tournament.

"When you get a chance to play, you want to impress to get a test spot against the better nations," he said.

He knew little about the French, who took part in the just-completed European Nations Cup, beating Russia 58-10 but losing to eventual champions England 42-4.

"I don't have a clue about them," he said.

"But we'll approach it like any other match."

Lolesi captained the Junior Kiwis in 2000 and among those in that side were fellow Bulldogs Matt Utai and Roy Asotasi, who have also played in this year's tri-nations.

Utai didn't make the English leg of tournament, returning to Sydney for ankle surgery after the 16-16 draw with Australia in Auckland, but Asotasi will take the field with Lolesi at Carcassonne.

- NZPA