League: Kearney plays straight bat for Aussie clash

Sika Manu will be the mainstay of the back row in the Kangaroos match at Eden Park this Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

If Stephen Kearney had been a cricketer instead of a league player he'd have made a decent opening batsman.

The Kiwis coach certainly did a fairly decent Geoffrey Boycott impression yesterday, wielding a broad, flat bat as he knocked down questions about his side to face the Kangaroos at Eden Park on Saturday.

At one stage featuring the phrase "as I keep saying, and I'll keep saying", Kearney delivered seven minutes and four seconds of dialogue so relentlessly on-message it could form part of a how-to guide for politicians.

Saturday's game was as important as any other test against Australia; he hadn't given the following week's Four Nations final any thought at all; he had picked the best team he could for the task, like he always said he would.

"This is the side we feel is best for the job this week," he said.

That side features the return of three forwards rested against Papua New Guinea, with Sika Manu edging ahead of Bronson Harrison in the back row pecking order the main talking point.

Frank-Paul Nuuausala has retained his propping berth alongside the recalled Adam Blair, forcing Greg Eastwood to the bench. Warriors forward Ben Matulino and Frank Pritchard return to that five-man bench, with rookie prop Sam McKendry and Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves dropping out.

"Right from the beginning I said we wanted to put out best foot forward," Kearney said.

"I'm not looking ahead to next week. This is a very important game for New Zealand rugby league. We have pre-sold over 25,000 tickets and [the NZRL] has worked very hard to put on an occasion like this, so our focus is on this weekend.

"Every test match against Australia is a real challenge and that is the way we treat it."

The dynamic but fairly lightweight Harrison has been a mainstay in the backrow for big matches in recent times. He was a first choice against England in Wellington but made way for the more robust Manu against the Kumuls. Manu packs an extra 5kg on his frame, however Kearney discounted the notion he was up-sizing his side specifically to face the Kangaroos.

"It goes back to that is what I think is good for us this week. I know Bronson is disappointed to miss out on the starting spot for now but I just think that is what is good for us.

"Size doesn't have anything to do with it really."

Kearney had expressed concerns about the level of preparation his side received in drubbing the Kumuls in Rotorua, however yesterday he insisted his players were well aware of the giant step up required to compete with the Kangaroos.

"We understand that we are not going to get the latitude that we did against Papua New Guinea, so that will pose a challenge for us in terms of the pressure that we will be put under.

"For us it is about making sure that we deal with that pressure, maintain our composure and still drive ahead to get what we need done done."

The appointment of Englishman Richard Silverwood to referee the match would not be a factor, Kearney said.

"If we get our game in order then the referee is not going to be an issue."

Australia are expected to name their side today.