Rugby League: Little leader rates his Kiwis tops

By PETER JESSUP

Stacey Jones rates this Kiwi side the most exciting he's been involved with since his international debut in 1995.

"The depth of the Kiwis in the NRL now means the team is stronger and that makes it more exciting," he said ahead of tomorrow's test against Australia and the tour to England that follows.

There is no doubt Jones regards the game as an opportunity to "get square" with Australians after the Warriors' grand final defeat and a string of test losses to the Kangaroos back to 1999.

"They always seem to be that bit better and go that bit harder at the end, but I think we're learning and we've grown a lot," Jones says, hugely honoured to be named as leader after the suspension and injury to Nathan Cayless.

Jones still smarts at the memories of last Sunday.

"I knew it would hurt," he says of the Roosters' win, "but I didn't realise how much. Watching them take the trophy and how much they enjoyed it ... It's hard to describe - it's a feeling I don't want again.

"You can't dwell on that because nothing will change it."

But he wants to go back and change history.

Tomorrow night he faces Brett Kimmorley, contained by the Warriors when the Sharks were beaten in the preliminary final. There's confidence to be gained from that and the fact Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler, long-time killers of the Kiwis, will not be on the field. Many rate Jones as being alongside Johns; he rates himself well behind, but learning.

There is as much off-field work as on-field for the captain. It's a job Jones never took too. Rather, he's had it forced on him and has grown into it. Now he's relaxed as leader.

He knows he is expected to settle the young guys in, make sure everyone is comfortable in the team, then gee them out of the comfort zone on game-day so everyone peaks.

The pressures are huge. Media and fans have hounded him all week and, just when it seems over and he makes it to the carpark, one last autograph hunter thrusts a pen and paper through his window. Many would have ignored the man, some may have abused him.

Not Jones. He knows everyone wants a piece of him and that's okay because league is winning.

"The profile of the game has picked right up, so it's something you expect and deal with," he says. "Sometimes it's hard, but we want the recognition so you live with it."

He is enjoying the Kiwi camp and has his specific goals for the coming internationals. After winning the man of the series award when the Kiwis won two of three tests and drew the third on the last tour to England in 1998, then having what he felt was an ordinary World Cup campaign in 2000, he wants to perform well as a launch-pad into a top tour.

"I'm excited at the opportunity we have to play another high-class game against Australia and, for sure, the Warriors making the grand final gives us some confidence."

Tomorrow it will be business as usual against the old foe: big forwards running at Jones when he's defending, or trying to put on telling hits when he is with the ball.

He likes the challenge of having to find a way through the best, though he's still not sure how he did that just after halftime last Sunday to take the Warriors' only grand final try.

"I don't know how I scored it. I've seen all their tries on TV, but I haven't seen mine, so I don't know how it happened."

His coach Gary Freeman, knows.

"He's a master."

Jones will surpass him as the Kiwis' best-ever halfback: "His influence on the team is huge."

The Aussies have thumped Freeman more times than he likes to remember as well, but he remains driven to upset them. It's a simple plan for Saturday: No mistakes.

"Give them too much ball and they'll hurt us. It's the old story - compete around the rucks, complete our sets of six and keep the ball away from them as much as possible.

"In past games we've just made too many errors - that's the major issue for us this week - don't let them have any loose balls."

Freeman regards the test as perfect preparation for the eight-week grind in England.

"It's a good chance to gauge ourselves."

And he regards the Warriors' grand final appearance as perfect preparation for the Aussie test - better than having had time off.

"Players like playing and it's better if they play."

Training has gone well:

"They're sharp. We're going well - no dropped balls. I hope we play that way."