Rugby League: Injuries cost battered Kiwis dearly

By PETER JESSUP

NEWCASTLE - Some good came out of the Kiwis' loss to Australia in Newcastle - the New Zealanders are in position to reverse the results on their home ground in October.

The 11-10 score in favour of the Australians at halftime gave some confidence. Had injury not robbed the Kiwis of gas and forced use of the interchange outside the plan, the score would not have blown out to the 37-10 end result.

Imagine the side with Ruben Wiki back in, an in-form Stacey Jones, Nathan Cayless on for two halves, an injury-free Jason Cayless and Robbie Paul able to offer more than he did half-dazed from a head clash.

The Warriors were the Kiwis' least effective players. Francis Meli lacked urgency and was caught out of position at kick time, Sione Faumuina dropped the ball too many times and Clinton Toopi should have set up a try for Lesley Vainikolo late in the first half but instead ran himself and was tackled. Jerry Seuseu was okay but not his best and Tevita Latu and Thomas Leuluai were solid.

Paul confirmed afterwards that he was keen to play for his country again.

"It's a long way to come for a headache, but when your country ask you, hey, you do it."

He was impressed with the team's athletic ability and skills.

"The thing you have to ask yourself is what this team can do when things go their way."

Suspended captain Ruben Wiki sat on the bench with the interchange players and gave a simple reason for the loss: "Errors. We didn't hold the ball - same old, same old."

Worst offender was Nigel Vagana, who had a hand in gifting the Australians two tries, failing to cover a grubber from Craig Gower, Darren Lockyer sliding on to the ball in goal, knocking on a bomb on his goal-line with Gower scoring off subsequent play.

"I was pretty disappointed with my game," Vagana said. "I trained well during the week and I don't think it was lack of game-time.

"A couple of things didn't go my way early and it just got worse the harder I tried."

Vainikolo was also disappointed in himself. "I didn't try hard enough," he frankly admitted. He should have done more dummy-half work to relieve the forwards, who were not getting the usual breaks because they were covering for the injured Cayless and Paul.

Vainikolo rued taking the wrong option during a break just after half-time when Toopi regathered the Australians' last tackle kick close to the Kiwi line and burst up-field, Vainikolo making it to the Aussies' 40m line before being tackled out by the much smaller Brent Tate.

"I should have gone inside ... you back yourself and sometimes it comes off. This time, no luck."

Like Paul, he wanted to be back for the test in Auckland in October if Super League finals do not interfere, and for the Tri-Nations in England.