Rugby League: Hoppe not relishing facing Kiwis

MANCHESTER - Retirement-bound wing Sean Hoppe was not overly enthusiastic about stretching out his career another week.

But playing the Kiwis was preferable to enduring an extended Super League grand final at Old Trafford. The English season finale between St Helens and the defending champion Bradford Bulls was less than 60 seconds away from 20 minutes of extra time when Saints halfback Sean Long potted the match-winning field goal from in front to break an 18-all deadlock, much to Hoppe's relief.

"I couldn't have lasted another 10 each way, my calves were blown. I think the game had almost died, we were all at a standstill," Hoppe admitted as he savoured a golden end to his four-year stint with the Merseyside club.

The 31-year-old, who spent five seasons at the Auckland Warriors before heading to England in 1999, said he was not relishing the prospect of facing some of his old Kiwis teammates at what promises to be a packed Knowsley Rd in six days.

"It will be strange playing the Kiwis. I hope we can give them a good contest after two or three days on the drink.

"Hopefully, Hull [on Wednesday NZ time] will soften them up for us."

Hoppe, the Kiwis' record tryscorer with 17 in 33 tests, had no qualms about finishing his career, saying he was fortunate to go out on a high.

"It's up there with the highlights of my career," he said.

"A lot of players would love to finish with a grand final ring, I'm not sure how many do."

Hoppe, who played his 76th career match for Saints yesterday, has no intention of leaving the area and heading home to Auckland with partner Tania and their two children.

Nine-year-old Kaitlyn, who accompanied him on the lap of honour, is settled in school and four-month-old Ethan will also spend his formative years in the north of England.

Hoppe was coy about his life after football, saying he would see some of the country for at least a year.

He hinted he would be involved with the club in some capacity, possibly in sponsorship, but had no immediate interest in coaching.

"I'll continue to watch rugby league and I'll still be down at Saints all the time."

Saints scored their nerve-racking win before 61,138 fans, a record for an English grand final, Long etching himself into the occasion's folklore with his successful shot from 18m out to the left of the uprights, after he missed on two previous occasions.

St Helens' former Kangaroo and Bulldogs prop Darren Britt frankly conceded: "We were never in it. I don't know how we won. We just hung in there and somehow pulled it out of the fire."

And winger Darren Albert, who became the first player in the club's history to win premiership rings in both hemispheres, said the game had a tenseness to match the 1997 Australia grand final, in which he scored the late winning try for Newcastle.

"I thought it was going to go into extra time," he said.

St Helens led 12-8 at halftime.

The win guarantees the club a winner's cheque of £290,000 ($947,000) and a world club championship match-up with NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters in Australia next year.

Bradford included four New Zealand players, skipper Robbie Paul, who scored one of their tries, Joe Vagana, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona.

- AGENCIES