Rugby League: Final experiences inspire Kiwis

By Peter Jessup

Players who tasted success and failure in the National Rugby League grand final flew into Auckland yesterday together as Kiwis with the result in Sydney two weekends ago providing different motivation for the tri-series.

Melbourne hooker Richard Swain is still on a high and seeking to prolong it with a win over Australia, coached by the Storm's Chris Anderson, while Dragon Craig Smith is after some consolation and aiming "to release a bit of pent-up frustration."

Only the Paul brothers are still to join Frank Endacott's camp, both injury free after their Bradford Bulls lost the Euro Super League grand final to St Helens 6-8, and they fly in early tomorrow.

Swain said he felt like a new kid on the block at the Anzac test but was comfortable with the squad after that one week.

"We're a young team, everyone is easy to get on with."

And there was a commitment to doing well with this Kiwi squad.

"We gave them a good run in the Anzac game and we were missing some players - we're closer to strength this time and they're missing some. We have to be confident."

Coach Anderson was not one for fancy footwork and complicated planned moves, Swain said, and the Storm stuck pretty much to the same game plan throughout the season.

"Just the forwards - go forward."

Given the size of the Kiwi pack, he expects a similar approach from the Kiwis when they front up to the Kangaroos in the tri-series opener at Ericsson Stadium on Friday night.

"I think we'll match them in the forwards."

Smith, nominated by many as the form prop of the playoff series, is looking for his first start after coming off the bench for his test debut in England last year.

He has not been back to the video to analyse what went wrong in the grand final, but concedes Melbourne played a complete game.

"They went up a cog in the second half and we didn't."

But, like Swain, he is raring to get into action and, while not rubbishing the Australians for the often-repeated comment that they want time off rather than international football in October, said he would play for his country any time Endacott wanted him.

"If we don't play it now when do you play it? And internationals are still the peak, what you aspire to. I'd never turn it down."

Endacott will take 18 of his 20-man squad through drills at Ericsson Stadium from 10 am today, the public welcome to attend.

The Pauls will train with the side straight after they arrive tomorrow, on Wednesday the Kiwis will run an opposed session against Gary Kemble's Junior Kiwi side, who play the Friday curtainraiser against Australia, and they have a closed run at match time of 7.30 pm on Thursday.

The Australians flew in last night, wing Mat Rogers with the party after passing a fitness test to satisfy team doctor Nathan Gibbs his thigh strain was okay.

Penrith centre and ace kicker Ryan Girdler also passed fit as replacement for Brisbane's Brad Thorn, his inclusion perhaps an indication that Canterbury's veteran midfielder Darren Smith will go to the forwards.

For once, the Kiwis go into an international series with statistics to match the Australians. The Kangaroos squad have an average age approaching 26, the likely test squad with a total 95 internationals at an average 5.6 per player.

The Kiwis' average age is just under 24, but they have a total 151 tests at an average 8.8 per player.

The figures will count for nothing on Friday, but it is clear the Kiwi camp believe this is the best chance they have had for a series win over the old foe for years.