League: Kiwis prepare for Tri-Nations final

The Kiwis regrouped in Leeds yesterday to prepare for next weekend's Tri-Nations final.

After the Kiwis' less-than-decisive 38-22 win over France, Australia did them the favour of removing Great Britain from the tournament by 26-14.

The Australians, like the Kiwis against France on Saturday, had to grapple with an enthusiastic Great Britain side before grinding them down with second-half tries brought on by the opposition's fatigue.

The Kiwis had good news on the injury front with big prop Paul Rauhihi recovering well from a thigh injury and expected to play. Frank Pritchard and Manu Vatuvai had scans for signs of concussion but have been cleared of any problems.

The Australians finished yesterday at Hull with 14 men after Craig Gower went off with a quadriceps injury, Luke O'Donnell with a leg strain and Trent Barrett in the sin-bin for a professional foul. Barrett was sin-binned in the 27th minute. The Lions scored both times he was off the field, their only tries.

Australia played the game at the Lions' end, thanks to a good kicking game and the forcing of turnovers in the tackle. New Zealand will need to maintain discipline, hold the ball and complete their sets of six if they are to give themselves a chance at Elland Road, Leeds, next Sunday morning.

The Australians will start favourites, but they do not look the invincible side of old.

Brian McClennan's team started this series aiming to make history and, after doing that with a rare win in Sydney, now have the chance to go a step further.

Doubt remains over the involvement of halfback Stacey Jones. Yesterday he was bound for Auckland for the birth of his third child.

The referee is likely to be Steve Ganson who took the early games between Australia and New Zealand. There is concern in England about crowd size given the fact Great Britain have been eliminated.

There was a small crowd at the Kiwis-France game in Toulouse. The local fans missed an intense game where their team performed creditably against much stronger and more experienced opposition.

* A meeting of the Rugby League International Federation in Leeds this week will consider a range of issues, including the protocols for handling injury withdrawals at future tournaments and the issue of neutral officials.

The 2006 Tri-Nations was set down for Australia and New Zealand when the RLIF met in England last year, but all three countries will want financial guarantees before that is confirmed.

There is concern about crowd figures here, especially after the meagre 14,000 that attended the test at Ericsson Stadium, and in Australia where international crowds are lower than those for big club games. Stadiums in England for Tri-Nations games have been sold out.

The RLIF will also look at banning the registration of players in two different competitions within the same season, a move to stop situations such as those involving Andrew Johns, the Roosters' Adrian Morley and the Warriors' Sione Faumuina, in which a player goes to England once his team has exited the NRL finals.

* Parramatta has told Brian Smith it will not be extending his NRL contract beyond 2006. Canberra Raiders' utility back Jason Bulgarelli has been disciplined after being convicted and fined for possession of 17 Ecstasy tablets.