Rugby League: British downplay Jones magic

By CHRIS BARCLAY in Leeds

Great Britain coach David Waite says he would be happy if Kiwis captain Stacey Jones had as much influence in the second test as he did in the first.

Though Jones turned in another man-of-the-match performance and scored a try, Waite did not think the Warriors' little general caused too much damage to his team.

Asked if the mercurial playmaker was impossible to defend against, Waite - armed with a wad of match statistics - downplayed Jones' contribution in the Kiwis' 30-16 victory in the opening test, adding that a similar effort at McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield, would suit him fine.

"He ran 24m with the football and made six points. I hope we control Stacey as well as we did in the first test. I hope he has as much influence this weekend as he did last weekend. I would be happy with that."

What the figures did not indicate is that, apart from effortlessly dummying past Keiron Cunningham and Kevin Sinfield to score the opening try, Jones was also involved three times in a move that swept 70m upfield for Henry Fa'afili to score off a Logan Swann chip.

His neat kicks also terrorised wing Karl Pratt, who will be watching the match from the stands this weekend.

Waite's summation of the Kiwis skipper, frontrunner to claim the George Smith Medal as player of the series, followed some eyebrow-raising comments about the manner of New Zealand's triumph.

Great Britain back Leon Pryce may have placed himself in the firing line after suggesting the Kiwis were a touch lucky to emerge winners by six tries to two.

"They didn't seem to score many classy tries," he said. "They seemed to be tries with a little bit of luck involved."

Waite said Nigel Vagana's first try should have been ruled out because Fa'afili, who scored a hat-trick, had obstructed Pratt as they leaped for a Robbie Paul bomb.

However, captain Andy Farrell, who leads the home side for a record 20th time, adopted a different stance to his coach and team-mate on the issue of Jones, rating him as one of the best players in the world and warning Great Britain to tighten their defence on the last tackle.

"The disappointing thing was that they scored 20 points from last-tackle plays and we can't afford to switch off against a fantastic kicking game that Stacey Jones has got," Farrell said.

He compared Jones to former Queensland and Papua New Guinea halfback Adrian Lam, a team-mate at Wigan.

"I think he's very much like Lammy, a running type of scrumhalf who is very good on his feet and likes to take big forwards on. He's got good strength for a little man and he reads the game very well."

Kiwis coach Gary Freeman would not be drawn on Waite's assessments, but was interested in Great Britain's dropping Pratt, prop Barrie McDermott and back rower Chris Joynt.

"It's surprising that [Waite] omitted so many so early, but now he gets an opportunity to charge up the blokes who have taken their places," said Freeman, who will name his side today.

He still has injury concerns over props Paul Rauhihi (thigh) and David Solomona (chest), although both trained yesterday.

Wigan veteran Terry O'Connor comes in for McDermott, and Paul Sculthorpe is poised to return in the back row if he passes a final fitness test on a thigh injury.

Waite would not name a replacement for Pratt on the left flank or release his starting line-up because a couple of players were still getting over the flu. Utility Lee Gilmour is a likely replacement for Pratt, although he is more at home at centre or in the back row.

If Sculthorpe is not fit, Hull's Richard Horne could come into calculations - the duo are bracketed as 18th man.

Leeds centre Keith Senior could also move out a spot.

Great Britain are hoping Huddersfield will prove a good omen after they won the opening test against the Kangaroos 20-12 there last year.

Fine weather is predicted.

Great Britain squad: Gary Connolly, Paul Deacon, Lee Gilmour, Martin Gleeson, Richard Horne, Danny Orr, Leon Pryce, Keith Senior, Kevin Sinfield, Paul Anderson, Andy Farrell (captain), Mike Forshaw, Stuart Fielden, James Lowes, Adrian Morley, Terry O'Connor, Jamie Peacock, Paul Sculthorpe.

- NZPA