League: Coasting Kiwis to put the foot down

Hooker Thomas Leuluai says the Kiwis are ready for the Eden Park test on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis might do their fair share of laughing at training but they haven't exactly being turning cartwheels about the way they have played thus far in the Four Nations.

The warm-up game against Samoa was too error-prone, the victory over England in Wellington too patchy. Even Saturday's shellacking of the Kumuls in Rotorua contained an ugly period when the Kumuls were briefly allowed off their knees to score two tries.

The overall impression is of a team that has coasted through the Four Nations while hardly breaking a sweat. That will certainly change at Eden Park on Saturday when the Kiwis face the Kangaroos in the dress rehearsal for the final in Brisbane a week later.

"I reckon we are yet to be tested," hooker Thomas Leuluai said. "And I think we are ready for the test against Australia. As ready as we are ever going to be."

That the Kiwis have been so underwhelmed by their efforts - what would once have been a cherished win over England was barely celebrated - is down to the vastly increased level of expectation this side puts on itself.

"That is one thing that [coach] Steve [Kearney] has done well," Leuluai said. "It is more about challenging ourselves. As long as we live up to our own potential, that is the thing we strive for. Steve has done a massive job there. He has pushed us to live up to what you can do and, if you do that, you are happy."

There is unlikely to be any let-up in the search for a truly satisfying performance against the Kangaroos on Saturday. Kearney has indicated he will pick his strongest side, which could be named today. Loose forward Jeremy Smith (knee), centre Junior Sa'u (back) and halfback Nathan Fien (back) took only a limited part in yesterday's training, however all three are expected to be fit for Saturday.

The Kangaroos cancelled their training yesterday but did attend a fan day at Eden Park. Former Warrior Brent Tate admitted returning to Auckland as part of an opposition team was a strange feeling. He also rubbished any talk of Saturday's match being a dead rubber.

"It's a test match and it's going to be a huge night," Tate said. "Psychologically too, going into the final, you want to be playing some good footy.

"For us to be any chance this weekend against the Kiwis, we're going to have to really pick up our performance," he said. "It's going to be a difficult game and we'll be playing as well for spots in the final."

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Kiwis captain Benji Marshall is one of eight players - and the only New Zealander - vying for the International Player of the Year title to be presented at Eden Park tonight. Marshall, 25, joins Australian fullback Billy Slater - who won the inaugural award in 2008 - along with two other NRL stars Darius Boyd and Todd Carney, an Australian (Pat Richards) who helped Wigan to Super League success and three England internationals in James Graham, Adrian Morley and Sam Tomkins.

- additional reporting NZPA