League: GB skipper Peacock overcomes the odds

LONDON - If rookie Great Britain rugby league skipper Jamie Peacock looks a bit queasy leading his team out for the first time against the Kiwis on Saturday, chances are his discomfort is being caused by more than just a bad case of nerves.

The Leeds-bound former Bradford forward suffered a sickening blow in the recent Super League Grand Final between the two Yorkshire heavyweights, coming within a whisker of losing a testicle.

"I got kneed in the balls," Peacock said. "They swelled up after the game and I went to see somebody [a doctor] on the Monday and was told the worst-case scenario was that one of them would have to be removed. Fortunately that wasn't the case. Everything is fine now and I'm raring to go."

Peacock suffered the blow in the opening exchanges but struggled on for 20 minutes before eventually seeking treatment on the sidelines.

He then returned to play a leading role in the second half as Bradford battled to a hard-fought 15-6 victory.

If the Kiwis had any doubts as to the size of the task facing them on Sunday morning, they would have been erased by the Great Britain captain's attitude to his misfortune.

Originally a deputy to Paul Sculthorpe, who was named as long-time skipper Andy Farrell's successor only to withdraw with a knee injury before he could play a game, Peacock initially feared he would suffer the same fate.

However, even if his testicle had been removed, the 1.96m prop or second rower insisted he would have played this Sunday.

"I was thinking that maybe there was kind of a curse, with my knee going against St Helens [in the play-offs] and then catching this injury but they have all come good and I am fit and ready to play.

"The doctors said that even if [the operation] were to happen the recovery time would only be a couple of weeks, so I would have been okay," he said.

The loss of Farrell, Sculthorpe and first choice half back Sean Long has deprived the British of a mountain of experience but Peacock believes they will still be competitive.

"We know those guys [who are missing] are world-class players but the people who are here are here to do a job and stand up and I'm sure they'll do that."

Britain's best chance lays with a rugged pack boasting Peacock, Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley and Bradford hard man Stuart Fielden.

"Fronting up in the forwards," would be the key to beating the Kiwis, Peacock said.

"Playing field position and completing a lot of sets is vital at international level. We have to be in the game with them. They have raced away in both games against the Aussies so we have to make sure we are in contention after that first 20 minutes.

"It is about building pressure. Against the best players and the best teams you have to build pressure. You do that by knocking sets off.

"You still have to play but you have to make sure the quality of your skill is in order and when you do that you get good field position. That's why the Aussies were so good against us in last year's final, they won the ground and kicked really well. That is what we have to do."

- NZPA