Rugby League: Kiwis adjust to life without Jones

By Peter Jessup

Kiwi rugby league captain Richie Barnett yesterday declared his side over the initial shock of losing playmaker Stacey Jones for the remainder of the Tri-series and praised the combination which the Paul brothers were bringing to the halves.

"We're lucky to have someone like Robbie [Paul] who can slot straight into halfback and Henry at standoff, both familiar with all the calls and knowing each other's play so well," Barnett said.

Getting over the Jones factor will be the biggest hurdle against Great Britain on Friday night, the little magician having been an integral part of the Kiwi game plan since his first test, against Tonga at the 1995 World Cup.

Jones, his left arm in plaster up to the armpit after suffering a dislocated elbow and wrist fracture against Tonga at Carlaw Park last Friday, faces his own battle, not just to get better but to get over the blow to his confidence ahead of the next NRL season.

"Stacey was great at putting people like Steve Kearney into holes," Barnett said. "It's just a matter of us getting used to a different style, the pass coming in different places."

Gene Ngamu had fitted back in well, his 20 tests providing a been-there-done-that approach. He seems likely to go to the bench as cover for the Pauls and big-tackling Richard Swain in the team who coach Frank Endacott will name today.

Barnett predicted plenty of work for the halves in what he expects to be an open, running game.

"Great Britain like to run the ball, so do we. They've got nothing to lose so we're expecting them to spin it around," he said. "What we need to do is concentrate on our own effort, start hard and fast and dominate them.

"Sometimes in the past we've struggled against them. We've tried to play their game and the miracle passes meant we dropped too much ball. It's a case of settling into our plan and rolling through it."

The Kiwis needed the run against Tonga, the skipper said.

"It's unfortunate for Stacey but we're better for the workout."

The 74-0 margin was good for their confidence, though they had expected the Tongans to put up more fight.

Murray Hurst, ,the North Queensland and Tonga coach, labelled this year's Kiwis the best New Zealand side he had seen.

"That score's never happened to me before," he said. "We didn't get a chance to put on any of the plays we'd worked because the Kiwi defensive line was so fast and so good. They've got speed all over the park."

Barnett predicted that Great Britain will be harder than their 6-42 loss to Australia last Friday would suggest.

Certainly, in Adrian Morley and Denis Betts they have ball-playing second-rowers better than those the Kiwis faced in the tour last year.

In the backs, Iestyn Harris, Gary Connolly and Jason Robinson are tough and elusive runners in traffic. Lions captain Andy Farrell had a particularly off game on Friday and his side, too, will be better for the workout.

The Kiwis train at Ericsson Stadium at 10am today. Great Britain have been holed up in the Radison Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast and fly in tonight.

Meanwhile, the Kiwi Ferns women's team are rapt at the chance to play ahead of the men on Friday night and hope a good crowd will carry them to a series win after a win and a loss away to the Australians.

Ruben Wiki's sister Germaine is the only newcomer to the squad who went to Sydney last month, having played her way into the team at the national Maori women's tournament at Hopuhopu at the weekend.

"We didn't play to out potential last time [in a 20-22 loss at Penrith] and we'll be harder up front this time," said captain Nadene Conlon.

The women go into camp tomorrow and will train at the Ellerslie club.

And the Rugby League International Federation opens its end-of-year meeting in Auckland today.

Delegates from the top three, Oceania nations and Russia, among others, are here to settle two major areas of contention - international transfer fees and development levies, and an international programme that suits players, clubs and national leagues and guarantees the availability of all players for their national sides.

The Auckland Warriors will present a case from NRL clubs asking for improved communication over the test programme and voicing concern at the risk top players are placed under in games like that against Tonga.

Kiwi Ferns: Zavana Aranga, Stacey O'Carroll, Selena Te Amo, Michelle Driscoll, Sara White, Leah Witihera, Trish Hina, Antoinette Rowely, Tracey Wrigley, Louisa Aviaki, Frances Te Amo, Nadene Conlon (c), Rachel White; interchange Germaine Wiki, Jackie Ryder, Tasha Davie, Cynthia Ta'ala.

Kiwis (likely): Richie Barnett, Lesley Vainikolo, Willie Talau, Ruben Wiki, Nigel Vagana, Robbie Paul, Henry Paul, Joe Vagana, Richard Swain, Craig Smith, Matt Rua, Stephen Kearney, Logan Swann; interchange Jason Lowrie, Nathan Cayless, Gene Ngamu, Brian Jellick.