KEY POINTS:
The Kiwis players and coach declared great confidence ahead of their Friday night match with the Kangaroos after assembling in Brisbane yesterday.
"We'll be well prepared and we'll be competitive," said Bulldogs prop Roy Asotasi, who appears to have shaded former captain Nathan Cayless for the job of
skipper to replace the retired Ruben Wiki.
"There is a lot of experience gone," Asotasi said of the international retirements of Wiki, Nigel Vagana, David Kidwell and Stacey Jones. "They have left a big hole. But as Nigel used to say before every test: 'It's a new breed rising.' Kiwis keep on proving themselves in the NRL.
"Personally I'm not concerned who the captain is - it won't alter my game. I'd be proud to do the job and lead my country but whether or not it happens it won't change the way I play."
Asotasi does not concede the team is in for another Anzac "beat-up", the Kiwis having been thrashed in successive years - 32-16 last year in Brisbane, 37-10 in Newcastle in 2004, 48-6 in Sydney in July 2003 and the Kiwis' worst defeat, 52-0 in 2000.
Coach Brian McClennan admitted he needed to keep the game-plan simple given the new internationals. He didn't want to stifle their game. "I have to let them express themselves. We're all creatures of habit; they're not going to change the way they do things. It's a matter of working with that." He warned fans to "expect the unexpected".
The four potential debutantes in the squad of 19 had all come through the NZRL development programme, all had played twice for New Zealand A and all were proving themselves in the NRL. "They're ready. We don't give away Kiwis jerseys lightly."
The 2007 team is healthier than that of 2006, more players were in form, fewer were carrying or coming back from injury, he said. But he was conscious of the fatigue factor. That's what cost them in 2006. The history of Anzac test results did not weigh on him, he said.
"You always go into a game confident you will win. Last year before kick-off I thought we'd win and so did all the players. With 20 minutes to go Andrew Johns killed us, he played very well that night and the score blew out at the end.
"We had no excuses then and there won't be any in future. We have prepared very well for two Tri-Nations finals, we've served our country proud and that's what we intend to do again."
The Australians have a significant advantage in terms of age and NRL experience. Only four of their players are aged under 25 - Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt, 20, Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston and Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith, both 23, and Roosters second rower Anthony Tupou, 24. They have all played between four and six tests.
By comparison the Kiwis have only three players over 25 - Penrith second rower Tony Puletua, 28, Eels prop Nathan Cayless, 29 and Tigers centre Paul Whatuira, 25. They have four new boys and the two stars of the team Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams have played just one test together, the Anzac game last year.
Marshall was recovering from shoulder surgery then, Williams from an ankle problem. Both yesterday declared themselves fitter and keener.
McClennan said the decision was made to choose only NRL players for this test. Only Brent Webb was originally to return from England because he is the only experienced test fullback. He was not worried about throwing in Webb's replacement Krisnan Inu.
"He's a very confident young man, and they will put everyone under pressure anyway."
Though the eye was on the end-of-year tour and the 2008 World Cup and this game was a development towards that, they were not writing off the game on Friday.
The squad is cut to 17 and the captain named today.
The Rugby League International Federation last night named England's Steve Ganson to referee the test. The touch judges will be Leon Williamson (New Zealand), and Russell Turner (Australia).