Rugby League: Grand final showing helps Kiwi cause

By Peter Jessup

The Kiwi test side coach Frank Endacott names today for the tri-series against Australia and Great Britain will include all four contenders from Sunday's grand final.

The Dragons barnstorming prop Craig Smith looks set to make his first test start after coming off the bench in England last year, a severe tongue gash sustained in the grand final unlikely to hamper him. He also escaped a high tackle charge in the loss to the Melbourne Storm.

Storm secondrower Stephen Kearney confirmed his place with an aggressive game, and rake Richard Swain and backrower Matt Rua are assured bench places after their efforts in the Melbourne win.

Endacott flew home from Sydney yesterday and will pick up the work with his Auckland-based squad members at the Warriors' Ericsson base from today. The other players will join them on or before October 10.

The coach tipped Melbourne to win on Sunday and was happy it was the New Zealanders who turned the game for them when they were 0-14 after the break. "I really felt it was Matt Rua, Stephen Kearney and Tawera Nikau - though he's not one of ours - who made the difference. And Craig Smith was the best prop on the field."

Endacott refused to identify any of the 20-man squad he'll name today for the opener against Australia at Ericsson on Friday October 15 but his comment - "to the victor go the spoils - they've proved they can do the job" - seems clear enough indication all four will be there.

Balmain prop Jason Lowrie has trained on with the reserve grade team that went to the grand final on Sunday as another indicator he'll be in the front row.

The coach said he would review every position overnight and had some thinking to do about positions in specific cases.

Captaincy candidates are the Paul brothers - Robbie is Bradford captain and Henry was captain of the Junior Kiwis in 1993 - Anzac test vice-captain Richie Barnett or Stephen Kearney, who was stand-in captain on the England/France tour in 1993.

Endacott yesterday appeared to rule out only Kearney with the statement "he has traditionally played better when he hasn't had it [the leadership]" then joked he wouldn't name a third leader until as late as possible for fear of invoking an injury hex after first-up Quentin Pongia then fill-in Jarrod McCracken withdrew.

He'd been trying to keep a stable squad for the past two seasons with a long view to the World Cup in November next year. "That's the big target and this is a stepping stone and a stable squad is a key to winning the World Cup. We've got plenty of players who know each other's game now."

The Aussies yesterday named a side to start a new era after the retirement of Paul Harragon, Mark Carroll, Glenn Lazarus, Dean Pay, Alfie Langer, Steve Renouf, Steve Walters and Laurie Daley from test football and the unavailability due to injury of Geoff Toovey, Andrew Johns, Robbie Kearns and Jason Hetherington.

New caps are St George/Illawarra centre Shaun Timmins and Newcastle back utility Matthew Gidley, while Penrith's Craig Gower who was dumped from the squad for what would have been his first full test (he was a Super League rep) is recalled.

Endacott commented on the absence of Sharks fullback David Peachey and Penrith centre Ryan Girdler. "It shows what depth they have - let's face it, either of those guys would be in our team."

Biggest problem for the Kiwis will be lack of match fitness, those who weren't in the playoffs not having had hard football since the end of round play on August 29.

Kangaroos tri-series squad: Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn (Brisbane), Darren Britt (Canterbury), Rodney Howe (Melbourne), Craig Gower (Penrith), Gorden Tallis (Brisbane), Bryan Fletcher (Sydney City), Nik Kosef (Manly), Jason Smith (Parramatta), Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne), Matthew Gidley, Matthew Johns (Newcastle), Brad Fittler (Sydney City, captain), Russell Richardson, Mat Rogers (Sharks), Darren Smith (Canterbury), Wendell Sailor (Brisbane), Shaun Timmins (St George/Illawarra), Robbie Ross (Newcastle), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane).