League: Kiwis must cut out basic errors, says Cayless

1.00pm - By ROBERT LOWE

Cutting out basic errors will be a priority when New Zealand open their Tri-Nations rugby league campaign against Australia in Auckland on Saturday, Kiwis forward Nathan Cayless says.

The Parramatta and former test skipper pointed to the Kiwis' mistake rate as a major reason for their 37-10 defeat when the teams last met in the Anzac test in Newcastle in April.

"We just have to hold the ball," he said. "We let in tries just from errors. We have to cut those silly errors out. That's the key. If we control the ball, we can go really well."

Cayless said the Kiwis showed in their upset defeat of the Kangaroos 12 months ago what they could do when they maintained possession.

Last October, the New Zealanders came back from 0-10 down to record an emotional 30-16 victory at North Harbour Stadium, also the venue for this weekend's clash.

"Last year, we didn't control the ball early and they got into a lead," Cayless said.

"But when we did control it, we got over the top of them. With the size and power and skill we've got here, if we hold the ball, we'll take a bit of beating."

Cayless, 26, has more reason than most to look forward to the Tri-Nations series, which will be completed in Britain over the following six weeks.

The frontrower had a disrupted National Rugby League season, and the fact that Parramatta failed to make the playoffs meant he has had little football over the past five months.

After breaking his arm against North Queensland on May 1, he returned for only the last two rounds of the regular season.

Had he not been injured, he would have spent a significant period on the sidelines anyway, having been suspended for a total of eight weeks for two separate incidents against the Cowboys.

Cayless ended up appearing in 10 NRL matches this year. Last season, he was restricted to just eight after also breaking his arm.

"It's been disappointing, not only this year, but last year as well," he said.

"I've really been looking forward to the Tri-Nations to play some footie. We knew in the last four weeks we weren't going to make the semis, so the test series gave me something to work hard for."

Cayless accepted that match fitness could be a factor late in the test, not just for himself, but for others in a similar situation.

He expected to get through with a combination of adrenaline and support from his team-mates.

A practice match against an Auckland selection last weekend had helped, "but there are going to be a lot of tired boys on Saturday".

Tired or not, Cayless will also be hoping for better luck than in the Anzac test.

As stand-in skipper for the suspended Ruben Wiki, he was concussed after just three minutes in a head clash with brother Jason.

The Kiwis' fortunes that night were further rocked by having hooker Robbie Paul concussed 10 minutes later.

Both Cayless and Paul returned in the second half, by which time the Kangaroos had control of the contest.

The Cayless brothers are in the Kiwis together again this week, with Nathan on the bench in his 21st test and Sydney Rooster Jason, 24, a starting prop in his fourth.

The Kiwis squad contains another set of siblings in Vinnie and new cap Louis Anderson.

Cayless didn't expect the brotherly links to have much effect on how the test panned out.

"Obviously it's a buzz for myself and Jason, as it is for Vinnie and Louis, but probably the people who get the most out of it are the families," he said.

"It won't really have much bearing on the game."

- NZPA