Rugby League: Kicking game big difference between test sides

By PETER JESSUP

The Kiwis are confident extra preparation time and good form carried over from the NRL finals series will stand them well in Saturday's test against an Australian side hard hit by injury withdrawals.

The big difference is in the kicking games. The Australians have Brett Kimmorley who kicks long and often, Craig Wing who is adept with a short-kicking game, and Craig Gower, covering halfback and hooker, able to do both.

The Kangaroos have the choice of Craig Fitzgibbon and Michael De Vere as goal-kickers, both around 75 per cent averages for the Roosters and Broncos respectively in the NRL, while the Kiwis don't have a recognised points-kicker.

It all points to a clash of styles, the Kangaroos sure to boot for distance, the Kiwis having to run their ground-gain up through the forwards.

Enthusiasm will be a key for the home team and there is no shortage of that in the pre-test camp.

Brothers Nathan and Jason Cayless start a test together for the first time, former captain Nathan, 25, having been invalided out of the tour to England last season when his 23-year-old brother first made the side. Nathan also missed the international in July.

Coach Daniel Anderson said this week he hoped to gain extra spark from the pairing and the brothers agree that will be the case.

"We're always competitive," said two-time grandfinal player Jason.

They grew up playing for Parramatta Marist, Nathan made his Eels debut in 1997 and Jason in 2000, Nathan his test debut in 1998 and Jason in 2002.

They train together in the off-season.

"It's a very big deal playing a test together for the first time," the younger Cayless said. It's also a chance for him to cement a place in the national team.

It will be very physical up front, Cayless agrees.

"We have to dent their line to get the good second-phase play. We've got a good pack of forwards and all of us have been involved in the finals series so we're going in with form."

The difference between the feeling after the Roosters' grandfinal win over the Warriors last season and this year's loss to Penrith was "sky-high to rock bottom", Cayless said, but that was history now.

"Success teaches you how to win, no doubt. I've learnt a lot from Brad Fittler and Luke Ricketson [Roosters veterans]. Success gives you drive for more success."

Prop Jerry Seuseu was the latest to come down with a diarrhoea virus that had affected Joe Galuvao and Thomas Leuluai, but all trained yesterday and are expected to play on Saturday.

The North Harbour Stadium surface is recovering well from hard wear and should be firm.

The Kangaroos had yesterday off after hard trainings in Sydney led by Cowboys conditioner Billy Johnstone.

They have no injury concerns but half Brett Kimmorley admitted to some concern about match-fitness after a layoff with a broken jaw then a ruptured testicle, a few games back then an early finish out of finals.

Bench forward Willie Mason, who has come from the interchange to score a try in his two tests against the Kiwis, predicted the Kangaroos would have to wear the Kiwis down before "playing some footy" in the late stages.

Anderson is relying on motivation and enthusiasm to counter that.

He is unconcerned about speed comparisons, lauding the speed of the Cayless brothers as props, that of Ruben Wiki at lock and of all the secondrowers.

"We have better form, we've had a better preparation and we're faster than we were in July," he said.

"We're more relaxed, we've had better access to training venues, we're more comfortable around family and friends."

But the Kangaroos last lost a test series in 1978 and since 1980 have won 73 of 85 games.

It's a record that makes them nervous. No one wants to be associated with the team that breaks it.

Their coach, Chris Anderson, went by helicopter to the Kauri Cliffs golf course north of the Bay of Islands yesterday for a round with stadium managers from Australasia.