League: Kemp says Anzac test on players’ minds

The NZ Warriors-Wests Tigers clash in Christchurch tonight is shaping up as a selection trial for the Kiwis league team, Warriors coach Tony Kemp says.

Kemp said the Australia-New Zealand test match in Brisbane on April 22 would be on the minds of several Warriors and Tigers players eligible for Kiwi selection.
"It's been a long time since this country has had a couple of number sixes to play for them, to pick from," he said.

The coach said Warriors players Jerome Ropati, Lance Hohaia and Sione Faumuina were contenders for Kiwis standoff, as was the Tigers' five-eighth Benji Marshall.

"It's a great position for the selectors to be in if they can find the right choice, one of those four.

"Probably within those four you could also find the number seven."

The Warriors' in-form halfback Stacey Jones is unavailable for Kiwis selection, having retired from international rugby league.

"In the back of my mind the Anzac test is coming up and I'm pretty sure in the players' minds too, they want to go out there and impress," Kemp said.

Hohaia has been named as standoff for tonight game at Jade Stadium, a position he filled for the past two weeks when Ropati moved to fullback to cover for the injured Brent Webb.

Webb's return to the team this week has left Ropati starting on the bench.

Hohaiha, who has played six tests for the national team, said getting picked for the Kiwis was not his main goal.

"First and foremost I've got to stay in the Warriors side, it's my first priority," he said.

The 22-year-old said Webb's injury had given him the chance to seize the five-eighth position from Ropati.

"There's competition for spots and you've got to take the opportunities when they come ... so I grabbed it with both hands," he said.

He and Ropati remained "good mates" off the field despite their tussle for a starting spot in the side.

"It's healthy for the team and good way to be for your playing side of things because it keeps you on your toes," said Hohaia, who needs one try to bring up 100 NRL career points.

Kemp said it was difficult to choose between the pair.

"It's not fair on Lance with the form he's been showing to leave him out of the side," he said.

"In saying that, I still think Jerome's got a big part to play in this club."

Wests Tigers are looking to continue their dream run in the NRL.

It's technically a home game for the Tigers, but despite having a few Kiwis in their ranks Tim Sheens' boys are likely to face up to 20,000 fans backing the Warriors.

That didn't do them much harm last year at Jade Stadium when they smashed a Warriors team in turmoil 50-4.

"Wests Tigers got us on a day down in Christchurch when I think on that night I had three blokes on debut," Kemp said.

This time the Warriors are a more experienced, in-form outfit coming off a confidence-boosting 46-14 thrashing of South Sydney in Auckland last week.

Kemp said this year the team had better leadership and a halfback in form - Stacey Jones.

Compared with that "walloping" last last year, "it'll be a different proposition come Saturday night".

"I still regard playing in New Zealand as a home game in front of our people."

The Tigers have been one of the surprise teams this season -- knocking off the Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters in their last two games and lying sixth on the ladder.

"I'm not really surprised they've gone so well, they've had the same team for a couple of years now and they've built really well," said Warriors winger Todd Byrne, a former Rooster.

"They play to their strengths -- they're not scared to throw it around."

Byrne said halfback Scott Price and five-eighth Benji Marshall would the Tigers' key players.

Kemp said: "They have a very good offence but on the other side of the coin, so do we.

"It's going to be a decent ball game."

The seventh-placed Warriors, who are two and two for the season, will be looking for their first back-to-back win since 2003.

- AAP