Rugby League: Old trick breaks Australia

By Peter Jessup

Had the Australians studied videotape of the Kiwis' victory over Great Britain last year they would have been staring into a crystal ball of what was to happen to them in the Tri-Series rugby league opener on Friday night.

Against Britain, Stacey Jones ran round the ruck, linked with Robbie Paul and Steve Kearney and produced early tries that made the home side play catch-up football.

It was the same combination at Ericsson Stadium on Friday when the Kiwis established their credibility in this series with a 24-22 win over the Kangaroos.

"The Aussies didn't learn," coach Frank Endacott said yesterday.

And despite knowing they will study Friday's defeat in minute detail, he was not concerned they would stifle the Jones-Kearney-Paul show should the pair meet again in the final.

"It's one thing working out what the other side's going to do and another stopping it," said Endacott. "You can always work small variations off a theme - if they expect Stephen to run we might use him as the block. The understanding those boys have - they'll be a force in any test in future."

Nor was he counting out Great Britain, who squeaked home 10-6 over Queensland Cup winners the Burleigh Bears on Saturday night. Their captain, Andy Farrell, was unconcerned, saying they only needed a run and the scoreline meant nothing.

Endacott was yesterday still enthusing about the Kiwis' effort, the front rowers having outplayed their opposites, the second rowers rolling offloads to break the line, the outside backs solid, and the bench making huge impact, Richard Swain with 29 tackles.

Henry Paul topped the tackle count with 32 and played in four positions from hooker to fullback.

The coach had a special word for his captain Richie Barnett: "I thought the fullback was superb, and among the effort from the rest, that's really saying something."

Endacott scotched talk from NRL clubs that this Friday's test against Tonga was a no-account match in which their precious players should not be taking part.

"At this level you can't put them in cotton wool. People observed that they were tiring in the second half and that's right - what they need is more football."

For those who question Tonga's ability, remember the 1995 World Cup. Endacott does. In the first official international between the pair in the quarter-finals at Warrington, Tonga were 13 points up with seven minutes to go before the Kiwis came back to win by a point.

They will not take the Tongans lightly this time, either.

The side are something of a mystery but are likely to include NRL-graded players - Awen Guttenbeil, Talite Liava'a and Solomon Haumono qualify - and several from England, including veterans of 1995 in props Lee Hansen and Martin Masella, and Tevita Vaikona at centre.

The Kiwis begin their buildup today with a light workout and basketball at Youthtown in the city, with only bumps and bruises to show for the rugged encounter on Friday.

The three squad members who did not play Australia - Terry Hermansson, Brian Jellick and Tony Puletua - will all start on Friday night in what is a charity match for children's hospitals here and in Tonga.

"It's their chance to make a charge for the Great Britain game [on October 29], though I'd have to say it's going to be difficult to leave any of the others out," Endacott said.

Australian coach Chris Anderson said he would do likewise with his squad for their game against Great Britain at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday, switching the centre pairing of Matthew Gidley and Russell Richardson for Shaun Timmins and Ryan Girdler.

With Matthew Johns going to standoff, captain Brad Fittler is likely to go to lock.