Rugby League: Kiwis cautious over second test

By CHRIS BARCLAY in Leeds

A relaxed but cautious Kiwis camp has been quick to scoff at suggestions that a series win over Great Britain will be a formality.

The home side lost a psychological edge and inspirational hooker Keiron Cunningham in a torrid encounter at Blackburn on Sunday.

Andy Farrell's team may not share the same dire predicament as England's cricketers in their crushing Ashes defeat, but many critics here have gloomily predicted a 3-0 whitewash to New Zealand on the strength of the Ewood Park performances.

However, the Kiwis, publicly at least, are expecting the wounded Brits to lift to another level as they try to halt a series losing streak that stretches back to 1993 - when they beat New Zealand 3-0.

"It will be two or three times tougher this week," loose forward Awen Guttenbeil said of Sunday's second test at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium.

"We want to put it away this week and they'll want to push us to a third game. We are not expecting an easy ride."

His thoughts were echoed by the Kiwis player most familiar with the Great Britain team, Robbie Paul.

"I know they'll come back. What happened in that first 40 minutes, I expect it to be the same for 60-80 minutes next time - that sort of torridness," Paul said.

"They have prepared well and in the first half they had us all over the place, especially going forward. They were doing a great job. We were really starting to tire."

Fortunately, the pack stepped up a notch after a quiet rev-up from Freeman set the platform for five second-half tries, Paul said.

The Kiwis eventually cleared out to win 30-16, but Great Britain coach David Waite said the margin flattered the tourists.

"I don't think it's the right scoreline," he said. "Pratty's [wing Karl Pratt] little knock-on before the tryline and a bad pass from Keiron Cunningham when it was six against three on the short side for about 30 seconds - they were two tries for us to walk in. That would have made a dramatic difference in the last 10 minutes.

"We've got only one game to get it right, but we should be better for the run."

Stuart Fielden cannot remember being pole-axed by Jerry Seuseu, but he recalled enough of the match to believe Great Britain can bounce back.

"We dominated the Kiwis, and that's not an easy thing to do, but after the [halftime] break we seemed to leave it in the changing room," Fielden said.

"We'll take this on the chin and come back stronger. We can still win the series."

Propping partner Barrie McDermott said Freeman "really earned his money" in the dressing room.

"He sat them down and got them refocused. We lost that second half by a mile really, but we have to be confident we can come back," McDermott said.

"Traditionally we've won the first one [test] and lost the next two, but hopefully we can buck that trend.

"Losing Keiron's a big blow, but we'll still be passionate."

- NZPA