League: Rough weekend knocks Kiwis ahead of test

The Kiwis have lost significant firepower up front and out the back as they prepare for tomorrow's test against Great Britain following injuries during the latest round of Super League.

St Helens prop Jason Cayless, who was a certainty to start, has been ruled out with a back problem. And wing Francis Meli - stretchered off during Saints' win over Salford at the weekend - is likely to be out for some weeks with a serious leg injury.

Meli's leg was at first thought to be broken but he was to have scans overnight to confirm the nature of the injury, which might be knee ligament.

Canterbury halfback/five-eighth Ben Roberts is set to make his test debut before his first NRL game.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan yesterday included Roberts, 20, in the 18 players to prepare for the game and it seems either veteran Leeds lock Willie Poching or Wigan's up-and-comer Harrison Hansen will be the one left out at Knowlsey Rd.

A few weeks back it looked like New Zealand was spoilt for choice at prop but then Paul Rauhihi was ruled out through injury, followed by Cayless. Bradford's Joe Vagana suffered a shoulder tear at the weekend, while Hull's Michael Smith remains on standby.

Saints' Vinnie Anderson is expected to be cleared after suffering bad facial bruising. It looks like he and Clinton Toopi will make up a bench with three backs and one forward, with McClennan likely to keep Roberts out of the early affray.

If the coach sticks to his plan to blood players for the Tri Nations he will use Harrison, who is starting his international career, rather than Poching, who is winding up.

It is a curious fact that 34 players will be taken out of round 17 of the NRL this weekend to prepare for the State of Origin decider on July 5 yet Kiwis are refused a release for the Great Britain test. International rugby league will remain something of a joke until the availability of players for tests is guaranteed.

Kiwis squad:
Backs - Stacey Jones (Catalans, captain), Motu Tony (Hull), Lesley Vainikolo (Bradford), Henry Fa'afili (Warrington), Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Willie Talau (St Helens), Vinnie Anderson (St Helens), Clinton Toopi (Warriors), Ben Roberts (Canterbury), Robbie Paul (Huddersfield). Forwards - Iafeta Paleaasaesina (Wigan), Alex Chan (Catalans), Monty Betham (Wakefield), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds), David Solomona (Wakefield), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), David Kidwell (Melbourne), Willie Poching (Leeds).

Great Britain squad:
Sean O'Loughlin, Terry Newton, Jamie Peacock, Lee Gilmour, Danny McGuire, James Graham, Rob Burrow, Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Martin Gleeson, Keith Senior, Gareth Raynor, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Steve Wild, Stuart Fielden, Keiron Cunningham, Adrian Morley, Paul Sculthorpe (captain), Gareth Ellis.