League: Missing World Cup triumph only regret

Everyone from the coaches, Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett, and seemingly, through to the kit man have been lauded for their roles in the Kiwis' stunning World Cup win.

But one man whose exploits are often overlooked is Roy Asotasi.

Asotasi wasn't at Brisbane that famous night when the Kiwis upset Australia 34-20. He still had an arm in a sling, thanks to the torn pectoral muscle sustained in the last 10 minutes of his penultimate NRL game of the season. It dashed any hopes of captaining the Kiwis at the World Cup.

Asotasi's biggest contribution came when he and Souths team-mate David Kidwell led a public campaign 12 months earlier to oust Gary Kemble as Kiwis coach after abysmal results against Australia and Great Britain.

It was a controversial strategy and one for which he received widespread condemnation from the likes of former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe.

Asotasi, then, felt vindicated when the Kiwis triumphed.

"I have no regrets. I knew New Zealand rugby league was in good hands once Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett were appointed. I was happy with that. It wasn't hard for me personally [to deal with the criticism] because I knew what was at stake.

"The only thing I had in mind was success for New Zealand rugby league. We had a lot of players who felt the same way and felt there needed to be a voice from Kiwi players," he says.

"We fought. David Kidwell and I decided we would be that voice for the players. I have no regrets."

It doesn't mean he didn't find it tough having to sit out the tournament. He "popped in" to see the team before the opener against Australia and took part in haka practice but was otherwise divorced from proceedings.

"I would have sacrificed all my

other years playing for the Kiwis just to be in the World Cup," he says. "It was disappointing but I was happy for them at the same time. It would have been a special team to be a part of."

Asotasi had delayed his wedding and had planned a celebratory tattoo. He's now hopeful of playing in May's Anzac test when, he says, Australia will be seeking revenge.

His immediate thoughts will be on captaining the Rabbitohs, starting with their match today against cross-town rivals the Roosters. Souths have been written off, despite winning seven of their last nine games in 2008 and recruiting Colin Best and Rhys Wesser.

The bookies rate them among the favourites to pick up their fourth wooden spoon in eight years. An NRL captains' poll gives them no chance of making the playoffs.

"It's easy [to respond to that], you don't respond," says Asotasi, who also had surgery on an ankle. "We don't train all off-season and pre-season to wait for a poll. If we did, we would have lost already.

"It's probably good because we like to fly under the radar. The last two years, Souths have been in the papers for good and bad reasons. We just want to keep a low profile. Personally, I'm feeling fresh and itching for some games. I haven't had a break like it since 2003. I've got over my injuries.

"We are hoping to be a lot better than 2008. It was a frustrating year. We are a lot better prepared mentally and we feel a lot better now as a team and coaching staff. We have some good buys in Wesser and Best and we feel we have the best squad the Rabbitohs have ever had."

Souths have 20 premierships (although none in modern times), and Asotasi is convinced they will be playoff contenders. As captain, he will demand success. Just as he did with the Kiwis coaching position.