League: Victors to get hasty welcome

The New Zealand Rugby League was yesterday hastily arranging a welcome for the victorious Tri-Nations team.

The team flies with a stopover in Asia, where some will transfer to flights for Australia but captain Ruben Wiki, the rest of the Warriors and some others are expected at Auckland at noon on Thursday.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson said they had silenced all doubters, had laid to rest years of torment and set New Zealand up for greater influence in the league world.

"The Kiwis have been taunted and bashed up by Australia for 50 years. Now they are dishing them out some of their own medicine."

"Ruben - people were asking if he was going to retire. Stacey - people were saying it was his last test.

"Let's hope they go around again, they will have enjoyed this," he said.

"The Warriors should extend Brent Webb's contract right now," he said.

"The whole team was great, the effort was fantastic from every one of them."

The trophy win, New Zealand's first in a Tri-Nations so far dominated by Australia, was exciting for the game and the result would flow through to player numbers, sponsorships and other areas.

He expected more pressure from talent scouts looking for players in New Zealand and that would improve their depth in the pro ranks.

"You only saw 17 players yesterday, there are plenty more coming on who will be just as good."

He also predicted fewer problems with player availability in future.

"The Kiwis players will want it stipulated in their contracts that no one will stand in the way of them playing for their country."

The Junior Kiwis beat Australia this year, New Zealand A beat their Australian equivalents and the NZ under-16s went undefeated on tour in Queensland.

"It's all quite exciting for the future," Pearson said.