The Kiwis Are Ready

There is never any denying the spirit of the Kiwis in war or love or sport, especially Rugby League.

That’s why Howie Tamati, the Chairman of the New Zealand selection panel, is more than happy with the team chosen for the Centenary Test on Friday, 9 May at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

‘It is a well thought out team,” said Tamati, a former champion Kiwi. “We will be ready for the Australians.”

Tamati predicts that whatever the Kiwis produce in the Test will be exceeded throughout the World Cup later this year.

“We are improving all the time and despite injuries to two or three key players, we will be strong competitors,” he said.

Tamati said the loss of Benji Marshal was a blow but not unexpected.

“I doubt whether we would have chosen him because of his injury rate,” said Tamati.

“He is a brilliant player and it is so disappointing to see him continually struck down by injury.

The Kiwis are applying pressure on two of the English Super League clubs, Leeds and Wigan, to release Test players.

Fullback Brent Webb (Leeds) and brilliant halfback Thomas Leuluai (Wigan) have yet to gain releases from their respective clubs and there are rumbles mounting as to whether they will make it back to Australia.

The English Rugby League is duty bound to demand the players are released. Under the International RL constitution, neither player can represent his club on the corresponding weekend a Test is played if chosen to represent his country.

Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney has named three rookies in the team for the Centenary Test. They are teenage South Sydney hooker Issac Luke, St.George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale and Roosters centre Setaimata Sa.

Sydney-born Nightingale, whose parents are Kiwis, won selection on “weight of tries.” He has scored five tries in seven matches this season.

South Sydney, dragging the NRL chain but close to a win, have four players in the New Zealand team.

The big news is that defence crusher Sonny Bill Williams is back.

Williams joins tough campaigners, Roy Asotasi and Nathan Cayless in a well balanced pack. There is a blending of skill and brimstone.

The Kiwis will be keen to lock down the star studded Australian backline, one of the sharpest ever chosen.

Retaining possession will never be as vital to the Kiwis as it will be on 9 May.

The New Zealand 19-man squad is:

Brent Webb; Jason Nightingale, Iosia Soliola, Setaimata Sa, Sam Perrett; Ben Roberts, Thomas Leuluai; David Fa’alogo, Simon Mannering, Sonny Bill Williams, Nathan Cayless, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi ©. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Jeremy Smith, Frank Pritchard, Adam Blair, Lance Hohaia, David Kidwell.

By Geoff Prenter