Rugby League: Tough job facing Junior Kiwi side

By PETER JESSUP

The Junior Kiwis face rugby league's proverbial "big ask" against the Junior Roos in the curtainraiser to tomorrow night's transtasman test in Wellington.

The Australian under-20 side have 10 National Rugby League premiership players, including weekly starters in Eels centre Jamie Lyon, Bulldog lock/five-eighth Braith Anasta and the Cowboys' Michael Luck.

The rest come from the Queensland Cup, so they all get stiff competition week in, week out.

By comparison, the Junior Kiwis will field only one NRL starter, big prop Iafeta Paleaaesina, and he has had only four games.

Warriors development player Lance Hohaia, at five-eighth, played in the test against France, and clubmate Richard Utai is on the wing.

Eight Junior Kiwis come from Sydney clubs, one from the Queensland Cup, one from the Bradford Bulls, and the rest from Bartercard teams.

Coach Del Hughes is not cowed.

"We'll go all right. The team has come together well," he said after their first training run at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

"We're here to play with plenty of heart."

He was pleased with the players' attitude and enthusiasm, especially in defensive drills, because he is sure they will need to make plenty of tackles tomorrow.

The Juniors ran against the Kiwis at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Junior Kiwis: Josh Cassidy (St George Dragons), Vince Mellars (Wainuiomata), Richard Utai (Manurewa/Warriors), Ray Grayvianne (Wests Sydney), Jardine Hape (St George Dragons), Lance Hohaia (Manurewa/Warriors), Aaron Heremaia (Hibiscus Coast), Iafeta Paleaaesina (Warriors), Cheyenne Motu (Manurewa), Mark Meredith (Parramatta), Roy Asetasi (Canterbury Bulldogs), Willie Scanlon (Canberra), David Faiumu (Canberra). Interchange Ben Ellis (Bradford), Tavita Latu (Wests Sydney), Carl Edmonson (Glenora), Robert Tanielu (Brisbane Wests).

Junior Kangaroos: Justin Hodges (Broncos), Joel Monaghan (Canberra), Jamie Lyon (Eels), Brent Tate (Toowoomba), Luke Rooney (Penrith), Braith Anasta (Bulldogs), Matt Bowen (Cowboys), Michael Luck (Cowboys), Daniel Irvine (Eels), Nick Walker (Brisbane Norths), Danny Sullivan (Eels), Corey Parker (Broncos), Dallas Johnson (Brisbane Norths). Interchange Paul Franze (Newcastle), Cameron Smith (Brisbane Norths), Ben Czislowski (Brisbane Wests), Garrett Crossman (Penrith).