By PETER JESSUP
A record 28 New Zealanders will turn out for Australian National Rugby League sides this season, only the Northern Eagles and Brisbane being without players eligible for the Kiwis.
And while the Auckland Warriors have elected to run with an Aussie captain in John Simon, three other clubs have
appointed Kiwi internationals as captain.
Nathan Cayless, age 22, was this week handed the reins at Parramatta; his ex-Eels second row partner Jarod McCracken is captain at the new Wests Tigers; and uncompromising prop Craig Smith is leader at St George Illawarra.
The Warriors carry heavy public expectations into their first game, the TAB sitting them on the second line of betting for a grand final win and as favourites to beat Melbourne on Sunday.
The agency has Brisbane as favourite, the Warriors beside Sydney City and the Eels.
Punters have spent most on the Warriors, followed by Brisbane then the Roosters and Eels, with the rest a long way behind.
The club's management is clearly nervous about that.
"If people have that much confidence in us then that is flattering but I think it is unrealistic to expect a team that has never made the semifinals and is about to enter the toughest-ever NRL competition to go in as such heavy favourites," said chief executive Trevor McKewen.
The club finished 11th of 17 last season and of the six clubs that finished below them Wests, Balmain, Manly and Norths had merged and Souths was no longer in the competition.
Season ticket sales are double what they were last year, at around 7000, and more than 20,000 are expected for the Waitangi Day opener against Melbourne.
Kiwis in the NRL: Canterbury Bulldogs; Daryl Halligan, Willie Talau.
Canberra Raiders; Anthony Swann, Lesley Vainikolo, Ruben Wiki.
Melbourne Storm; Stephen Kearney, Matt Rua, Richard Swain, Tasesa Lavea, Tai Lavea, John Lomax.
Newcastle Knights; Jason Temu, Paul Rauhihi, Timana Tahu.
North Queensland Cowboys; Brian Jellick.
Penrith Panthers; Tony Puletua, Frank Puletua.
St George-Illawarra Dragons; Craig Smith (c).
Parramatta Eels; Nathan Cayless (c), David Kidwell, David Vaealiki.
Sydney Roosters; Richard Barnett, Quentin Pongia, David Solomona.
Sydney Sharks; Christian Kerisiano.
Wests Tigers; Jarrod McCracken (c), Jason Lowrie, Tyran Smith.
