League: Playing on a level field

By PETER JESSUP

When the Kiwis run out onto North Harbour Stadium tomorrow they'll carry the belief that they can compete throughout the game and that they will be in it near the end with a chance to win.

It hasn't always been that way.

The Aussies used to leave Andrew Johns out of test sides or play him at hooker.

The faces standing across halfway at kick-off included the likes of Alf Langer, Brad Fittler, Gorden Tallis, Glenn Lazarus, Bradley Clyde, Wally Lewis - names that were legendary.

The 2004 Kangaroos have Darren Lockyer but the others do not engender the same nervous anticipation and are no more feared than are names such as Wiki, Vagana, Cayless and Puletua.

And in Sonny Bill Williams the Kiwis have a true superstar in the making.

Though just 19 and with only 22 NRL games behind him, he has the maturity to break the test open. His impact in the grand final was substantial.

At the Kiwis dinner on Wednesday night, speaker Artie Beetson remarked on Williams and said how impressed he was with the youngster's game

The Kiwis are a tight-knit bunch. Most have been in or around the representative scene for a while.

A variety of other links could also produce telling combinations: the sibling rivalry that should lift the two sets of brothers, Jason and Nathan Cayless and Louis and Vinnie Anderson; the eight players of Samoan background; the nine who are or have been at the Warriors; the three Bulldogs plus Nigel Vagana who was there last year; the second-row connection between Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua.

There will be a lot of "playing for each other", a feature the squad have emphasised themselves and that coach Daniel Anderson has ingrained.

Anderson has had a lot of time to think about this game, to plot revenge for the loss at Newcastle in April, just prior to his departure from the Warriors.

The Kiwis did not play badly that night - they were beaten by early injuries to crucial players and ran out of steam.

Anderson is confident the side will compete.

The Tri-Nations also gives him a chance to impress club bosses as he seeks a fulltime job.

His contract runs one more year. He is wanted by the backers of a Wellington franchise but a review of expansion by the NRL is not due until 2006, and should he sign with an Australian NRL club or an English Super League side, then he would no longer meet the stipulation that the New Zealand Rugby League imposed to shut Gary Freeman out of the Kiwis job.

Anderson has had plenty of time to plotfor this match, to dissect the opposition. But again he is without a recognised goal-kicker or field-kicker, without a specialist five-eighth, fielding teenagers and a halfback from Bartercard Cup.

Last year and in the Anzac test lost 17-30 at Newcastle there was all that, plus the lack of a recognised fullback.

In April he also had to adjust to the late suspension of captain Wiki.

The preparation this time has been more solid than it has for years.

The injuries carried by Galuvao and Puletua did not affect their performances for the Panthers and they can be expected to step up a gear tomorrow. The rest are fit.

The Kiwis will take comfort from the familiarity of the North Harbour venue, where they have a three-one record.

While the all-up test record between the countries is Australia 74, Kiwis 26 and a 14-all draw in 1993, for games in New Zealand it is Australia 28, the Kiwis 15, plus the one draw.

At North Harbour Stadium, the Kiwis won 30-12 in 1997, 22-16 in the first of a three-test series in 1998 before losing there 16-36, with last year's result 30-16.

Wiki said young players coming into the side were sometimes a bit stand-offish, but newcomers Louis Anderson and Roy Asotasi, as well as Williams in his second test, were comfortable and confident.

"It's one big happy family - that's what I love about playing for New Zealand," the skipper said.

He rated the Kiwis a good chance.

"All the boys play in the NRL now. Over the years it's been a matter of getting that same mentality the Aussies have; getting to their level," he said.

"We have respect for them. They will go up another level for the test. We are capable of going up that level, too.

"Australia always have to be at the top because of their depth," he said, conceding favouritism. "They could pick three teams.

"But it's a matter of 13 guys on the field. We've had a good preparation. We're relaxed."

Kiwis v Kangaroos at North Harbour

1997:Won 30-12

1998:Won 22-16

1998:Lost 16-36

2003: Won 30-16