League: Kearney warns Luke

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis hooker Isaac Luke has been warned by coach Stephen Kearney about making dangerous tackles in Sunday morning's (NZT) sudden death Four Nations clash with England.

Kearney played down the seriousness of a hit on Australia's David Shillington during the October 28 loss to Australia in Warrington but, during the countdown to the playoff for a finals berth, admitted the issue was a concern.

The coach earlier conceded he had stood down Luke for last weekend's Wembley encounter with Wales, partly as a response to the furore over the "cannonball'' tackle on prop Shillington.

Luke received an official caution for diving at the knees of Shillington as he was held in a tackle, especially after making a similar hit on Australia's Sam Thaiday a fortnight before in Newcastle.

"I've made him aware of it - obviously he's on a caution,'' Kearney said. "The last thing we want is for Issac to do his chances of playing rep footy any harm and we don't want injuries to the opposition from acts like, particularly, the one in Newcastle which can turn out pretty dangerous.

"He was fine. He understands with the officials, they'll be watching him closely so it's important he does the right thing.''

A Rugby Football League official said the warning meant the next time Luke committed a similar offended he would be referred straight to the judiciary.

The Kiwis had yesterday off and are anxiously awaiting news on the fitness of prop Fuifui Moimoi (twisted ankle). He was able to run in a straight line at New Zealand's most recent session in Leeds.

But the English have far more injury worries - even allowing for the loss of Kiwis prop Sam McKendry (broken jaw) for the rest of the tournament. Captain Jamie Peacock (knee) feared he would need another reconstruction but has trained on a bike this week and key forwards James Graham, Gareth Ellis (both back) and Chris Heighington (calf) are also racing the clock.

"Injured players are responding well to treatment,'' team spokesman Danny Reuben said.

Warrington's Garreth Carvell is first in line to come into the side.

Kearney refused to question the wisdom of fielding so many injured players, as England seem likely to do. "They're like ourselves - they're desperate,'' he said. "We'll be desperate next weekend. I think of the guys who are injured for them - Ellis, Peacock and Graham - they're probably very important players for them. If Benji [Marshall] and Kieran [Foran] and Jeremy Smith were in the same boat, I'd be looking to try to get them out there, too. That's just the nature of the situation.''

In a dual display of gamesmanship, England coach Steve McNamara named all 24 of his players in his team for tomorrow's match - and Kearney didn't name a side at all.

"We've made all the lads aware of, potentially, who slots into what position,'' said Kearney. "Since we've come here in the last eight years, we've [rarely] come away with results. The wins over here against England have been few and far between. It's always been a challenging place for us to play. That's the big hurdle in front of us.''

Ticket sales indicate a crowd of over 22,000 and McNamara has revved up Hull locals by saying England are "going to war''.

England (possible): Sam Tomkins; Tom Briscoe, Jack Reed, Kirk Yeaman, Ryan Hall; Kevin Sinfield, Rangi Chase; Chris Heighington, Ben Westwood, Jamie Peacock (c), James Roby, James Graham. Res: Gareth Widdop, Adrian Morley, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jon Wilkin.

New Zealand (possible): Kevin Locke; Gerard Beale, Lewis Brown, Alex Glenn, Jason Nightingall; Benji Marshall (c), Keiran Foran; Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Isaac Luke, Ben Matulino. Reserves: Thomas Leuluai, Fuifui Moimoi, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Elijah Taylor.