Rugby League: Mercer to help out an 'old mate'

By CHRIS BARCLAY in Leeds

Gary Mercer was in the last Kiwis team to lose a test series against Great Britain after leading 1-0.

In a bid to safeguard old mate Gary Freeman's side from a similar fate he has been ushered in to lend a hand.

Mercer was co-opted by the Kiwis management to add his experience to a side on course to create history should they wrap up their three-match series in Huddersfield on Sunday.

No Kiwis side has won 3-0 on British soil, but Mercer believes this squad is equipped to inflict another blow to Great Britain's rugby league reputation.

He witnessed training for the first time yesterday and could not help but marvel at the stark athletic contrast between the class of 2002 and the Kiwi teams he represented on 24 occasions between 1986 and 1993.

"I've been watching this Kiwis side carefully on tour and the Aussie game and what strikes me is the immense talent throughout the squad," he said. "I've never seen a Kiwis side with so much talent and size.

"What you also see here is a lot of mentally tough players and that's what you have to be. They play NRL week in week out, they play strong consistent football.

"[In Britain] You might play one hard game then two soft games, I don't believe these [Super League] boys are playing to their full potential."

Mercer may have played and lived in the north of England since 1987 but there is no doubt where his allegiance lies

"It would be great to see us whitewash the British," he said.

If the mission is accomplished it will go some way towards erasing disappointments he experienced here as a Kiwi.

The Kiwis opened the 1989 series with a 24-16 win at Manchester but lost their way at Leeds, crumbling 6-26. They also lost the decider, albeit controversially, 6-10 at Wigan's Central Park after Mercer was denied a last-minute try.

"I scored behind the sticks and thought we had the kick to draw the match with a minute to go - but it didn't happen."

Four years later he was in the troubled Kiwis side who lost the series 3-0, playing his last test in the second international at Central Park.

Mercer will be Freeman's messenger for the rest of the series, relaying the coach's instructions to the players during the tests.

The former Bay of Plenty representative welcomed the opportunity to assist "an old mate" but doubted he could add much in the way of motivation.

"After winning the first one you can get complacent but I'm sure Gary has stressed that Great Britain will be far tougher this time."

Despite the Kiwis' strong mental and physical attributes, Mercer believes Great Britain will be no push overs.

"It's going to be a mental thing and I think New Zealand has the edge on them, but the second test will be very tight."

He wouldn't be surprised to see tensions boil over early. "You could get a fight in the first 20 minutes."

Mercer finally called it quits at the end of the 2000 season with Leeds and is currently Graham Steadman's assistant at Castleford.

He has no immediate plans to return to New Zealand but gets back every couple of years. "I married an English girl so I'm stranded here for a bit."

Freeman may name his side on Saturday, giving utility David Solomona (chest) and prop Paul Rauhihi (thigh) every chance to prove their fitness.

- NZPA