GLOUCESTER - New Zealand Maori captain Tawera Nikau yesterday confessed that he was struggling to hold back his players for their opening match against Scotland in Glasgow on Monday.
"They are just dying to go out and perform and do their best in their first World Cup," Nikau said after a training run in Carlisle, north of England, yesterday.
"We want to make sure we win, control the ball and score some tries.
"The boys are jumping out of their skins. I'm struggling to hold them back.
"The feeling in the camp is fantastic and the camaraderie is close because we all get on so well.
"We can't wait to do our haka before the first game. We might do one afterwards - it will depend how we feel at the time."
Nikau, aged 33, said he expected big tournaments from West Tigers' player of the year Tyran Smith, halfback Hare Te Rangi and hooker Henry Perenara.
"Te Rangi has a lot of ability, as people at Otahuhu know. I am picking him to be one of the finds of the tournament. His enthusiasm is infectious.
"Perenara is off to Melbourne Storm next year and he will make his mark in this tournament."
Nikau said he wanted to lead from the front and by example, and produce the type of form that helped the Maori side to beat Great Britain in Whangarei two years ago.
Gene Ngamu will be the goalkicker and he will call the plays with Nikau and Te Rangi.
Scotland are coached by Hull's Australian Shaun McRae and their side include a few Australian ring-ins, including Jeff Bell, of the North Queensland Cowboys.
Nikau said the team could reach the semifinals, and the way the draw was looking they could play New Zealand, if they were to beat England in the quarter-finals at Headingley.
"First of all we have to win our pool, which is the toughest of the four pools.
"It may come down to our last match against Ireland in Dublin.
"If we finish second in our group we would meet Australia in the quarters, which would be pretty daunting."
* NZ Maori: Clinton Toopi, Odell Manuel, Toa Kohe-Love, David Kidwell, Sean Hoppe, Gene Ngamu, Hare Te Rangi, Paul Rauhihi, Henry Perenara, Terry Hermansson, Wairangi Koopu, Tyran Smith, Tawera Nikau (capt). Reserves: Martin Moana, Chris Nahi, Kyle Leuluai, Tahi Reihana.
- NZPA
Rugby League: NZ Maori jumping out of skins to play, says skipper Nikau
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.