League: Aussies scramble for response to Kiwis

The Australians will continue to ponder the shape of the Kiwis side they will face in Sydney after a 40-man squad was announced yesterday.

The Kiwis selectors have their ideas firmly in mind for the 17 who will take the field at Stadium Australia on October 16 in the Tri-Nations opener, the 17 who will play the Junior Kangaroos as curtainraiser to that test, and which of the members of that New Zealand A team may force their way into the 23-man squad to go to England to complete the series.

But they have no need to show their hand at this stage and will select their teams for Sydney in a week and assemble them there next weekend. The touring squad will be named after game two of the Tri-Nations at Ericsson Stadium on October 21.

In Sydney yesterday there was speculation that the Australian selectors had met hurriedly in the morning to review a 23-man squad they had selected prior to Sunday night's grand final and were due to announce in the afternoon.

The first squad had no Tigers and no Cowboys, the story goes, and the panel's re-think was prompted by the fact that Kangaroos touring squads are usually thick with players who perform in the grand final.

Wests captain Scott Prince is a new cap. But the grand final's Clive Churchill medallist will have to force his way ahead of Andrew Johns, who is said to be a sitter despite having raised some ire over his decision to play briefly in England. Penrith captain Craig Gower is also in the way.

Only Cowboys second-rower Luke O'Donnell joins Prince from the NRL's ultimate game, an issue likely to be raked over for some time in Australia, especially if the Kangaroos are beaten. Tigers prop John Skandalis and fullback Brett Hodgson and Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen were the notable omissions.

Darren Lockyer stays as their captain and Ruben Wiki looks sure to continue as Kiwis leader.

Of the 40 in the New Zealand squad, those looking most likely as debutantes on October 22 are Cowboys bench man David Faiumu, Roosters centre Iosaia Soliola - who will push Clinton Toopi for his spot - Warrior Manu Vatuvai, and the Storm's Jake Webster, who will compete for the wing spot usually held by Matt Utai.

The Kiwis will likely have four grand final players in centre Paul Whatuira and utility Dene Halatau from the Tigers, and Cowboys' prop Paul Rauhihi and Faiumu.

Halatau will have an MRI scan on his damaged shoulder this week but desperately wants to play, says Kiwis coach Brian McClennan.

So does Benji Marshall and, although named, he is booked for surgery after partly dislocating his shoulder in the second half of the grand final.

TRI-NATIONS SQUADS

New Zealand:

Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi, George Carmont, Nathan Cayless, Luke Covell, Greg Eastwood, David Faiumu, Joe Galavao, Awen Guttenbeil, Dene Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, David Kidwell, Wairangi Koopu, Tevita Latu, Phillip Leuluai, Kylie Leuluai, Peter Lewis, Jamaal Lolesi, Steve Matai, Hutch Maiava, Benji Marshall, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Frank Puletua, Paul Rauhihi, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Marcus Perenara, Iosia Soliola, Jeremy Smith, Clinton Toopi, Tame Tupou, Glen Turner, Nigel Vagana, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Jake Webster, Paul Whatuira, Ruben Wiki.

Australia:

Trent Barrett, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Craig Fitzgibbon, Mark Gasnier, Craig Gower, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Matt King, Darren Lockyer (c), Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello, Luke O'Donnell, Mark O'Meley, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Andrew Ryan, Jason Ryles, Timana Tahu, Brent Tate, Trent Waterhouse.