Rugby League: Wiki confident he can hack it in the centres

By Peter Jessup

Ruben Wiki has not played centre since the Anzac rugby league test, but he has no doubt that he has what it takes to win the one-on-one with Australia's new pairing of Matthew Gidley and Russell Richardson in tomorrow night's tri-series opener at Ericsson Stadium.

Wiki has plenty of respect for the pair, referring to them as the speedsters.

But ask if he reckons he is still fast enough to foot it with them after a year when Canberra coach Mal Meninga shifted him to the second row then prop, and he says simply: "We'll see."

Wiki has a simple game plan and anyone familiar with his style knows it. He will go out to hit hard in early tackles, so the opposition will be looking for him next time the ball is coming their way.

"I respect the forwards more now - they do a lot of hard yakka," he said yesterday of his season up front. "But I don't think I'll have any problem going back to the midfield.

"We need to be patient, stick to our game plan. It's a real good feeling beating Australia and we're overdue for a win."

Wiki's selection in the backs rather than the forwards was one of the few posers ahead of yesterday's announcement of the starting side after the Kiwi squad ran against the Junior Kiwis, who will play the curtainraiser against the Junior Kangaroos.

Henry Paul, as kicker, had to be included in the starting line-up and packs down between Craig Smith and Joe Vagana as coach Frank Endacott looks to start with a big forward roll and smart dummyhalf work.

The grand final influence continues in the second row with Melbourne's Matt Rua earning a start beside Storm team-mate Stephen Kearney.

And Richard Swain's work in the NRL playoffs, non-stop tackling, smart ball service and attitude in training this week probably swayed Endacott to keep him on the bench ahead of a four-prop attack that would have started Terry Hermansson.

He, wing Brian Jellick and Tony Puleatua will be likely to start against Great Britain in a fortnight.

New Zealand have a clear edge in the forwards in size and power in this series. Both sides have clever halves, Stacey Jones rating Brett Kimmorley as "a class act every bit as dangerous as Alf Langer."

Jones, freshened after a break and honeymoon at Fiji's Vomo Island, expects Kimmorley to run around the ruck and use his kick on the run.

"With Jason Smith and Brad Fittler there too, it'll be busy," he said.

He was comfortably happy with his combination with Robbie Paul.

It could be the action in the centres that decide the game. And it was that there that there were the only injury niggles for either team yesterday, Willie Talau with a slight hamstring strain and Richardson still needing his knee packed with ice after runs this week, but both will play.

The Australians had a weights session yesterday morning and played golf in the afternoon before training under the Ericsson Stadium lights at match time (7.30pm) last night.

Much has been made of the forward battle. Asked his opinion, Craig Smith said he rated Darren Britt as a very skilful player and Rodney Howe gave the Kangaroos power.