Rugby League: We're on track, says Endacott

By Peter Jeesup

Frank Endacott could not be happier about the Kiwis' prospects at next year's rugby league World Cup after the showing the so-called bunch of crocks turned on against Australia in the Anzac test.

After what he described as "always a 50-50 game," New Zealand had proved it had depth and a future game plan to become regular winners against the more favoured Australians, Endacott said.

"We're on track for the World Cup. There was a lot of talk about all the young guys, but you have to start somewhere," he said.

Certainly he had reason to be proud, as did all New Zealanders, at the Kiwis' effort in and the enthusiasm and flair with which they approached the game.

The lead-up was dominated by bad news with injury, suspension and argument over how the Paul brothers would play after the long flight from England. In the end, all that was mostly academic.

The Pauls sparked the side with unbridled enthusiasm and took a top workrate to Stadium Australia, unafraid and showing no respect to the Australians.

Best of all, they are in their early 20s and the combination developing with Stacey Jones is the sort of unstoppable genius that wins World Cups.

The Kiwis were most exposed in the second row and at centre. Nathan Cayless made too many errors for an international, but it was enthusiasm that brought them.

He carried plenty of ball and did damage every time.

David Kidwell's defence was exploited by Darren Smith when he came on to replace the more focused Willie Talau. But Kidwell is big and strong, eager to learn, and positional play will come in the National Rugby League.

Likewise, Richard Swain and Matt Rua were short of experience and surprised by the speed, but given their lack of games in the NRL, showed plenty of promise.
As Endacott said of Lesley "the Volcano" Vainikolo: "It's bloody encouraging when you've got guys picked from reserve grade, and he's only 19."

Endacott put his side's good return down to good preparation during the week. He scoffed at the Australians' problems with off-field bad behaviour, but privately, he was probably accepting them as the best thing that could have happened to unsettle them.

The Kiwis were on a hiding to nothing when they went to Sydney. They left with new respect from the Australians and the squad should be enthusiastic over their prospects for the future. Imagine Quentin Pongia and Stephen Kearney back in and Richie Blackmore in the centres with Talau.

The Australians made much of the fact they had not had a State of Origin decider to determine their best side, but they were deciding who to leave out while Endacott was struggling for someone to put in.

The Australians conceded afterwards that they needed to control the ball more.

That came from captain Brad Fittler, who bombed a try with a knock-on. But then, pressure makes mistakes.

Winger Mat Rogers dropped five kicks, although Endacott denied any plan to target him, saying that was just luck.

The Australians also got beaten around the rucks by Henry Paul's speed from the play-the-ball and good go-forward from the bigger forwards coming off it.

They looked as if they had some ideas on how to break the Australians, who for much of the game looked as if they did not know what was going to happen next.

Innovations like the telescopic kicking tee that allowed Paul to get the height to achieve high kickoffs that produced turnovers will probably be banned next test.

The average age of the Kiwis was 24. The Australians' average was 27. New Zealand had five new caps, the Australians one.

And coming out the back, the Australians continue to rake over the Craig Gower affair and coach Chris Anderson's and team manager Brian Johnston's role in the subsequent cover-up.

Australian Rugby League chief executive officer David Barnhill is to be hauled before the board this week to explain why he should not be sacked for not informing them.

Endacott, meanwhile, is free to watch videos and go to games with his mind on his combination for the tri-series.

Gorden Tallis, another of Australia's best on the night, went to the Kiwi dressing room afterwards to inquire about Henry Paul's health after Tallis was involved in the tackle that brought the unfortunate folding under of Paul's head and his departure from the field.

Paul went to Concord Hospital for x-rays but was later declared OK.

Watch the interest the Pauls will now attract from Australian clubs.

It was a clean game, hard and fast, and very entertaining. Yesterday many of the combatants were passing the ball to each other in club games. More Anzac spirit. Something to look forward to next year.

No mention of referee Stuart Cummings: he must have had a good game too.