League: Ropati happy to be unselfish and play out of position

Jerome Ropati

New Zealand Warrior Jerome Ropati is spending more time these days as a rugby league fullback than in his favoured position of five-eighth.

For the uncapped Ropati, that could continue when the Kiwis take on Australia in the Anzac test in Brisbane next week.

The 20-year-old Aucklander has been named in the 22-strong New Zealand training squad, which will be pared down to a test 17 on Sunday.

Clubmate and fullback Brent Webb has also been included in the 22, but is a doubtful starter because of a back injury, and Ropati would be an option as replacement.

"Stand-off is my preferred position and I've played there most of my life, but I don't mind fullback," he said.

"I've always been happy not to be selfish and play wherever the coach calls me to play."

Ropati has already deputised twice in the starting line-up for Webb in the National Rugby League (NRL) this season, and will do the same when the Warriors are away to Newcastle on Sunday.

His form has been mixed, with some good attacking play counterbalanced by a couple of costly handling errors in defence.

Ropati said he was getting more comfortable at fullback the more often he played there.

"I'm quite happy right now with the training I've had and it's starting to become second nature to me," he said.

"There's still room for improvement and hopefully that will come."

A contender for the Kiwis' Tri-Nations campaign last year before the need for ankle surgery put paid to his chances, Ropati said he surprised to get the call up this time around.

"I feel shocked actually and excited to be in the training squad," he said.

"Growing up, I saw Mark Graham and Olsen Filipaina and all those players, and I've always wanted to know what it would feel like to play in a test, especially against Australia -- the best in the world.

"If I get a chance to be on the field, it will be just unreal."

Ropati is one of four uncapped players in the preliminary squad. The others are mercurial half Benji Marshall and second rower Bronson Harrison from Wests Tigers, and Penrith forward Frank Pritchard.

One British-based player has been included, London Bronco halfback Thomas Leuluai.

Notable absentees are three front-line forwards -- young Bulldog sensation Sonny Bill Williams, and Penrith second rowers Tony Puletua and Joe Galuvao, who have all fallen to injury in the past fortnight.

Coach Daniel Anderson said the Kiwis would miss the trio's experience both in test football and as NRL grand final winners.

"We've got a smaller team, probably, from what we had two weeks ago, but we've got a faster team," he said.

"We probably don't have that out-of-the-box player in the squad, apart from Benji, but there are a lot of talented hardworking players. We lose big-match experience, but we get enthusiasm and excitement."

One high-profile casualty was Parramatta Eels prop Nathan Cayless who captained the Kiwis in last year's Anzac test after Ruben Wiki was suspended by the NRL.

Cayless was also in the Kiwis Tri-Nations squad which toured Great Britain late last year.

- NZPA