Rugby League: Kiwis lack experience in crucial positions

By PETER JESSUP

A lack of experienced test players in the crucial positions of hooker, halfback, five-eighth and fullback haunts the Kiwis as they prepare for their test against Australia at Albany in 11 days.

There is no one who is a regular goal-kicker at club level and coach Daniel Anderson says he had no idea who will kick the goals.

"That's something for myself and the NZRL to look at in terms of succession planning."

Of the need to push people out of position, he said: "There's nothing I can do about it. I would rather go in with fully-fit players. That's better than taking injury-prone players in or having injury concerns in the lead-up."

Anderson was pleased that most of the squad have played in the NRL finals series. "And they want some payback for July [the 48-6 walloping]."

Former captain Nathan Cayless is the only player who will not be in Auckland by Saturday for an opposed training session against the New Zealand A side who are preparing for a tour of England.

Cayless will be at a wedding.

Anderson wants to try halfback/five-eighth combinations, which will have Motu Tony and Thomas Leuluai as starters. Halfback is Leuluai's usual and preferred position. Tony was a five-eighth or fullback in lower grades.



A squad of 21 have been already named. Only prop Craig Smith of the Britain-based players remains in realistic contention but he won't be released if Wigan make the Super League grand final against Bradford. The final is the same weekend as the test.

Two or three players could be kept in camp to gain experience. Tevita Latu is likely to be one of those. He is highly regarded and, despite not having played since the Warriors' last regular-season game and suffering pneumonia and major weight loss since, he will be on standby in case of injury to Monty Betham.

Ruben Wiki is captain. He will play in the second row rather than at prop and, while Aussie coach Chris Anderson has indicated he will rest combatants from the NRL grand final, Daniel Anderson must play his.

There was good news from Penrith yesterday.

Both the "Hair Bears," Tony Puletua (knee) and Joe Galuvao (hip), will be cleared for the October 18 test.

The Roosters have still to clear Jason Cayless and Andrew Lomu, but no problems are expected.

Wiki's wide-ranging ability, the form of the Penrith pair and the fact Ali Lauiti'iti and Sione Faumuina play similar games to Logan Swann mean there is no room for Swann, a 26-test veteran.

"It's all about roles," Anderson said. "There's too much competition."

Swann was disappointed yesterday, but reiterated he had no quarrel with the coach.

He was still unable to specify which English club he would be playing for, but confirmed it was one of the three still in the Super League finals contest.

Bulldogs wing Matt Utai was the other notable omission. Anderson said Utai's application to detail before, during and after the July test was less than expected.

"He's not banished, but you can't be flippant when you're playing for your country."

Either Clinton Toopi or Henry Fa'afili is likely to be fullback, and given the cover at centre, Toopi might be the better choice, with his ability to smash into the line and his experience in the No 1 jersey.

Betham will be hooker and dummy-half. It wasn't his fault the ball delivery in the preliminary final loss to Penrith was slow, Anderson said.

"We weren't bending their line back. The play-the-balls were slow." He still hasn't watched the game, it's too painful.

"Hopefully the players feel the pain ... the opportunity doesn't come too often."

Sunday's grand final is being touted as the fastest game ever, with 93 sets of six, of which 66 were completed.

The first State of Origin clash this season was next-best, 83 sets and 58 completed.