League: Asotasi confident of fitness

Prop Roy Asotasi is confident his match fitness will not be problem during the Kiwis' defence of their Tri-Nations rugby league crown.

The Canterbury Bulldog, rated the National Rugby League's (NRL) best front rower this season, has played just one match in the past six weeks since suffering a knee injury against Brisbane in mid-August.

He returned earlier than expected from the medial ligament tear to make his return against the same team at the preliminary final stage of the playoffs.

But the Bulldogs' 20-37 loss to the Broncos, after leading 20-6 at halftime, deprived Asotasi of further game time that a grand final appearance would have provided.

Asotasi said he had pulled up from his comeback match without any problems and expected to play his part in the Tri-Nations, which begins with a trans-Tasman test in Auckland on Saturday.

"I'll be doing the best I can to be up there," he said.

"I'll see how it goes at training this week, but I'm pretty confident I'll be all right."

The loss to the Broncos drew the curtain on Asotasi's first-grade career with the Bulldogs, which began in August, 2002, and included a premiership title in 2004.

This season, the mobile and powerful prop's form again made him an ever-present for his club until injury struck, and last month he was named the Dally M front rower of the year.

Next year, he will be in new surroundings across town, having signed a five-year contract with South Sydney.

At test level, where he has won 10 caps, Asotasi made his debut in the 2004 Tri-Nations.

In last year's tournament, he played in every match as the Kiwis, under new coach Brian McClennan, ran off with the trophy.

Asotasi said the key to a possible second series victory in succession was to forget about the past.

"We're the defending the champions, but last year is last year," he said.

"It's a whole new side, a whole new squad. I'd like to think everyone will be focused on this year. Last year isn't going to win it for us this year."

Asotasi, 24, was also a member of the New Zealand side brought down to earth by the 12-50 loss to the Kangaroos in the Anzac test in Brisbane in May.

He said there would be no underestimating the present Australian squad despite the inclusion of eight newcomers and the international retirement of Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy and Steve Menzies.

"They're still fielding a very good side," he said.

"They've got guys who have done the job for their NRL clubs.

"I'm sure they will be pretty excited and enthusiastic to go out there and represent the green and gold."

- NZPA