Rugby League: Fa'afili called in

By PETER JESSUP

Henry Fa'afili has withdrawn from the New Zealand Residents team to play Tonga at Carlaw Park tonight, flying to Wellington yesterday as cover for fellow Warriors wing Francis Meli, who continues to struggle with an injured thigh.

Meli ran with the side at Rugby League Park yesterday, but he was not at full pace and could not take full part in what was a sharp skills session with few dropped balls.

As the forwards did muscle drills, Stacey Jones dropped bombs on wing Matt Utai and fullback David Vaealiki.

When the team trained together the attention was on working kicks into the in-goal area.

Coach Gary Freeman had said he would settle the make-up of his bench yesterday, but will wait another day to see if Meli's injury settles or, if he has to withdraw, how the balance of the side should be redrawn.

At this stage, Jason Cayless and Logan Swann look likely to be the players cut from a six-man bench, but if Meli goes, the side lose the work he does as an extra forward, which could prompt a reshuffle.

Lance Hohaia would start at five-eighth, Freeman said, despite the Warriors' late-season preference to start Motu Tony and use Hohaia from the bench.

It is a big call for the 19-year-old, who will be a sure target for the ruck-runners and his opposite, Trent Barrett, who enjoys a 10kg weight and 7cm height advantage.

Freeman has invited two former Kiwis who played in Aussie-beating sides to the team dinner tonight

Former Bay of Plenty and Wellington wing Phil Orchard, and Cronulla, then Storm, lock Tawera Nikau will speak about their careers and what international football did for them.

Orchard was a Kiwi from 1969-75 and played 21 tests, and Nikau was a Kiwi from 1989-97, playing 19 tests.

Nikau might seem an unusual choice given his repeat withdrawals from the Kiwi squad, but Freeman said it was about using the knowledge available and making the former players feel wanted.

"I heard Phil Orchard speak when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and he was brilliant.

"I expect he'll tell Stacey and the boys how he looks up to them," Freeman said.

"It's not so much motivational - I do that - it's keeping them involved and using their knowledge and experience."

Lock Stephen Kearney said there was determination in the squad to beat Australia, and recognition of where they had gone wrong in past games.

"Natural ability has been our downfall sometimes, too many loose passes. We won't be giving them any freebie opportunities on Saturday."

They would play tight and hard, and the intensity would ensure that would be entertaining enough for the crowd, especially if they won, Kearney said.

He expected the Kiwis to gain momentum from the Warriors' grand-final appearance.

"We don't have to fly blokes out from England any more. It was always hard to expect them to arrive two days before the game, but now we can leave those blokes out and still put out a good side."

Former Australian coach Bob Fulton said the Kiwis had a better chance than usual of winning because New Zealand teams of old were tired and lazy.

Kearney took issue with the word lazy, but not to tired.

"We are smarter and fitter now," he said, which he puts down to the influence of Australian coaches, including the Warriors' Daniel Anderson.

"It's more an understanding of what's required to win at this level than a case of us being lazy and unfit."

At 30, Kearney is still excited at the chance to play Australia and at the opportunity to tour.

"I'm enjoying the game and looking forward to the challenge."

More than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the 34,500-seat stadium and the weather forecast for tomorrow is for showers, clearing.

The referee is Bill Harrigan. Rugby League International Federation rules provide for neutral referees, unless both teams agree on a candidate, which is the case here.