League: Judiciary leaves Kiwis to focus on the job at hand

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan isn't buying into talk of conserving Benji Marshall. Picture / Getty Images

BRISBANE - The Kiwi camp was buoyed yesterday as Louis Anderson and Nigel Vagana escaped suspension after the weekend's round of the NRL and captain Ruben Wiki's hamstring strain improved.

The judiciary had the potential to wreck the Kiwis' preparations for Friday's test against Australia, with fears Anderson could be charged after being placed on report for a high tackle against the Bulldogs on Sunday.

But the NRL's match review committee yesterday cleared Anderson's tackle on Tony Grimaldi, leaving him and Vagana free to play at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Cronulla's Vagana was cited for a grade one careless high tackle on Penrith replacement Brian Norrie in the Sharks' win on Friday. But under the NRL rules, he will escape suspension with an early guilty plea, which is a formality.

That leaves the Kiwis to focus on combinations on the field and the mental preparation for the test against a Kangaroos side looking for revenge for the 24-0 loss the last time they met.

The game shapes as a physical contest, with the Kiwis aiming to again out-muscle the Australians and close down their playmakers.

The Kiwis are pleased with the inclusion of Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns who missed the Tri-Nations final in Leeds last November with injury.

"There's no excuses for them this time," said Thomas Leuluai who also missed that game through injury but has been called in to replace the injured Stacey Jones.

Leuluai was fizzing after flying in from London and said the Kiwis pack would be the best he'd ever had.

"We've got some big boys. Sonny Bill [Williams] will draw a lot of attention and so will Benji [Marshall]," Leuluai said.

"We've got game-breakers. We just need to do the basics right, hang on to the ball. No mistakes and field position, that's what wins test matches."

It will be the first time Williams and Marshall have played together. But much of the talk in the camp on the Gold Coast yesterday was of the decision of New Zealand-born Karmichael Hunt to elect for Australia after being named as cover for Anthony Minichiello who also has a hamstring problem.

Marshall and Williams expressed some disappointment at Hunt's decision, the Avondale-born fullback having grown up in Australia from age 11.

There was some irony for Queensland-born Brent Webb who chose to play for the Kiwis when he became eligible after three years living in Auckland and playing at the Warriors.

He hadn't regretted that decision.

"I've had some of the best times of my life with the Kiwis. If that's what he [Hunt] wants to do I don't see why anyone should bag him. It's not a decision you make overnight."

He had no thoughts that it might have been him in green and gold, Webb said. "New Zealand gave me the opportunity and those opportunities don't come along every day."

Hunt is sure to be the subject of some extra attention if he does play. Marshall said he expected to be too after returning in the test after four weeks out with a dislocated shoulder. His match fitness might be down but the test would drive everyone and bring out their best, he said.

All the Kiwis including coach Brian McClennan expect this game to be tougher than the final at Leeds but the mood is one of going in to win rather than to compete and not lose by too much.

McClennan names his starting 17 today after training at the Burleigh Bears ground.

He gave no clues about where and how he would use individuals but expressed full confidence in the players to rise to the occasion.

"We want players in a role they are comfortable with," he said, "especially in a test match."

So major positional switches look unlikely. There has been lots of planning on how to best utilise the impact players. McClennan was not buying into talk from the Dogs and Tigers about conserving Williams and Marshall, or using them off the bench.

"Sonny Bill, however long he plays, he's a threat, he will be a handful.

"We have no stars in our camp," McClennan said. "For us to win we have to have 17 guys playing well."

Nor did he have concerns about bringing in Broncos wing Tame Tupou for his debut. He replaces Manu Vatuvei who has a hamstring tear.

"Manu came from the development ranks last season and he was international rookie of the year - I don't see why Tame can't do it."

McClennan agreed passion was a big word for Friday night.

"And there are some other strong words - desire, love for one another, our sense of belonging to something. There'll be passion in bucketloads on Friday night," he said.