TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 12 October 2009

RE: Media Summary Tuesday 06 September to Monday 12 October 2009

Australia wary of New Zealand ambush ahead of Four Nations: Still mentally scarred by 2008's shock World Cup defeat, will head to the Four Nations fearing another New Zealand ambush in . Australia will face the Kiwis at Twickenham's Stoop Stadium, with captain declaring the Kangaroos ready to re-establish themselves as 's premier nation.

Roos seek revenge over New Zealand in rugby league clash: AUSTRALIA cannot regain rugby league's World Cup until the next tournament in 2013, but in the meantime they're determined to show title holders New Zealand who really is No. 1. The Kangaroos' quest for trans-Tasman supremacy began with a 38-10 win over the Kiwis in on May 8 and will continue in England in the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

Parramatta Eels' prop will be rested ahead of the Four-Nations because of his rib and knee injuries: Kiwis' coach has decided to rest ' prop Fuifui Moimoi ahead of the Four-Nations. Moimoi carried knee and rib injuries through the NRL playoffs and has not been selected in the Kiwis' side for Wednesday night's one-off test against in Rotorua. Kearney says apart from Moimoi's absence, he has picked a full-strength side. He says they want to get this campaign off to the right start and Tonga will pick a strong side. There are four debutantes in the 17 - Junior Sau, , Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. (Source: NZ City 11 October 2009)

Four debutants for Kiwis in Tonga Test: Four of the Kiwis' seven newcomers will make their international debuts in Wednesday night's one-off Test against Tonga at the Rotorua International Stadium. Coach Stephen Kearney has named Newcastle centre Junior Sau, Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin and Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala in the starting line-up while Rotorua-born Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is included on the interchange bench.

Warriors reject who battled back: Frank-Paul Nuuausala remembers it well. It was the end of 2005 and he was called into 's office. He was an 18-year-old from the mean streets of Mangere and Otara but had been on the Warriors books since he was 14. He had often been described as the next Ali Lauitiiti so a life as a successful first-grader, he assumed, was certain. Cleary didn't think so. He was taking over as Warriors coach in 2006 and he needed to make some decisions. This one wasn't difficult.

In the name of the father: Bryson Goodwin has had something of a split personality since he was a youngster. One side of him was rooting for Australia, the country of his birth and the nation his famous father 'Lord' Ted played four tests for in the early 1970s. The other was supporting New Zealand, his grandmother's country and the nation he will make his international debut for in the coming days. "I used to go for whoever was winning when I was a kid," Goodwin says with a laugh.

The Nu-look Kiwi: New Kiwi Frank-Paul Nuuausala might be affectionately known by his Roosters team-mates as "Frank-Paul The Wrecking Ball" but when he turned up to start training late last year during the pre-season, "Frank the Tank" might have been a more appropriate moniker. At the ripe old age of 21, the talented young prop from south , who joined the Roosters from the Warriors' development squad as an 18-year-old, returned to work from holiday complete with a gigantic spare tyre around his waist.

NZ gets cash pledge despite venue: Any chance of the annual Anzac test being played in New Zealand this decade have been scotched by NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle, with the league ready to sign off on plans to take the 2010 test to Olympic Park in for the first time. Doyle told the Star- Times it was now 90% certain the annual test would move to Melbourne, instead of Brisbane, where the game has been held in four of the past five seasons.

Pressure on for Tonga tickets: When team manager Gordon Gibbons doles out the standard allocation of four complimentary tickets to each Kiwi player before Wednesday night's test with Tonga, two will begin mercilessly pursuing their team-mates to hand over their spare passes. Players such as , whose family are in Australia, will be the first targets for debutants Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Kiwis tour is no holiday in the sun: With the NRL done and dusted, it's now time to focus on the Four Nations tournament in England and France. With seven rookie Kiwis on board, it is a case of in at the deep end and let the hard work begin. After months of planning, the Four Nations is almost upon us. Most of the boys assembled in camp on Tuesday night in Auckland with those involved in last week's NRL Grand Final arriving last night.

Kiwis the winners as backrower skips war zone: The Danger money would have been a lot more: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' rugby union contract was worth just $1500 when he turned down his father's offer to drive a forklift truck in a war zone. Wayne Hargreaves has been a water purification engineer in the US military for the past seven years, totting up what his son thinks is "about eight" wars, including Cambodia (where he was kidnapped by guerrillas), Afghanistan, Somalia, Kosovo and Iraq, from where one phone call home was cut short.

Kearney's Kiwis focus: New Zealand's World Cup-winning coach Stephen Kearney is adamant he will only take on a club coaching role when the time is right for him. The 37-year-old former Kiwi captain masterminded his country's stunning 34-20 win over Australia in last November's final despite his only experience of coaching at club level coming from his work as an assistant to Craig Bellamy with NRL champions .

Core missing but Kiwis squad still looks good: It wasn't that many moons ago that the Kiwis couldn't have coped if up to 10 of their best players were not available. Take out (captain and NZRL Player of the Year 2007), (2008 International Winger of the year), Jeremy Smith (NZRL Player of 2008), (Warriors Player of the Year 2008), Taniela Tuiaki (2009 Dally M Winger of the year and the NRL's leading tryscorer until he broke his ankle), (Warriors' best forward in 2009), , , Zeb Taia and Setaimata Sa and you remove the core of a very good side. It is the core of the World Cup- winning side.

It's just like riding a bike...: It might be 12 months since he last ran a ball up in anger but didn't look out of place at Mt Smart Stadium yesterday. The 36-year-old Wiki came out of retirement to play for Toa Samoan Domestic, a side representing his mother's homeland. Proceeds from the match went to the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort. Wiki retired from professional rugby league last year, having played 315 NRL games and a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis. But even that vast experience couldn't save his side from a heavy 62-14 defeat against a New Zealand Bartercard Premiership Selection. The Bartercard team comprised 16 players from the Canterbury and Auckland sides which last weekend contested the Bartercard Premiership final. Source: Herald on Sunday 11 October 2009

Wiki’s return not enough for : A year after retiring, rugby league legend and Ruben Wiki pulled the boots back on for a tsunami fundraiser. The 36-year-old was the headline act for a Samoan Residents side that took on a Bartercard Premiership Selection at Auckland's Mt Smart, in a fundraiser for victims of the Samoan tsunami. The ex-Warrior retained his big hitting ability but despite his best efforts, the New Zealand side won 52- 14 over Toa . The game, and Mad Butcher sausage sizzle, raised over $10,000 for the relief efforts. Source: TVNZ 10 October 2009

Thousands rally for tsunami benefit match: As a shipload of aid and able bodies steamed towards Tonga and Samoa on Saturday, others have spent the day in New Zealand passing the bucket around for more donations. There were warm Pacific greetings for thousands turning up to Mount Smart for a Rugby League benefit match.

Oz foray couldn't take the Kiwi out of Foran: People who emigrate to new countries tend to go one of two ways; some fully assimilate and embrace their new land, others never really turn their eyes away from the mother country. , the Manly and now Kiwis five-eighth, is firmly in the latter group. Foran's family moved to Australia when he was 9. Australia became the place where he lived, but it never became home. In many ways he did assimilate. He went to school, played footie for his local club and even represented Australia at schoolboy level.

Support from all quarters for NZRL's benefit match for tsunami disaster relief fund: Entertainers, celebrities, the police and many others are turning out in force to back efforts to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort in the 's benefit match at tomorrow (Saturday). In the feature match, world record-holding former Kiwi captain Ruben Wiki (36) is coming out of retirement to play in Samoa's colours in the clash between Toa Samoan Domestic (Samoan Residents) and New Zealand's Bartercard Premiership Selection (3.30pm kick-off).

Wiki puts on Samoan jersey for fundraiser: A benefit match for victims of the Samoan tsunami gives former New Zealand Rugby League captain Ruben Wiki the chance to fulfill a lifelong ambition. The South Auckland- raised international with the dual Maori and Samoan whakapapa will take the field at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow in the Samoan team against a New Zealand selection. He says that's something he never managed in his 300 game professional career. Ruben Wiki says the tragedy in the islands has galvanised all irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. Source: Waatea News 09 October 2009

Success by Kiwis key to invigorating code: The best thing that could happen to New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle's credibility drive would be for the Kiwis to perform at the upcoming Four Nations tournament. Doyle was in yesterday to meet the faithful and, more importantly, existing and prospective sponsors. The gist of what he had to tell them was that he was a successful, stand-up guy, running a respectable organisation with achievable plans for leading the domestic game out of the doldrums.

Kearney not ready for a club: New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney will only take on a club coaching role when the time is right for him. Kearney has been linked with almost every high-profile job to arise since winning the World Cup last year. Kearney, who is assistant coach at Melbourne, said: "I have found already that juggling the two jobs I have at the moment is time-consuming enough and that is just working as an assistant." Source: www.teletext.co.uk 09 October 2009

Leuluai warns England will be a threat: Wigan utility has a warning about the threat England will pose in the inaugural Four Nations rugby league tournament. England had a disappointing World Cup in Australia last year, beating just Papua New Guinea. They had 50 points put past them by the Kangaroos before losing twice to eventual champions New Zealand, the second time at the semifinal stage.

Samoan tsunami a worry for and St Helens Grand Final stars alike: Samoa will contest the next month but first up five of their players will face off in the Grand Final at . As the enforcer of the Leeds pack, one of Kylie Leuluai's first tasks in Saturday night's grand final will be to make his mark on Tony Puletua, the formidable St Helens forward who represents one of the main threats to the Rhinos' hopes of clinching a third consecutive title. But on Sunday afternoon they will meet at Manchester airport as brothers in arms, with the shared goal of winning the Pacific Cup with Samoa, and providing a little sporting consolation to a people still reeling from the effects of last week's tsunami.

Wiki on side for Samoa: Kiwi league hero Ruben Wiki will wear the blue of Samoa for the first time when he takes the field tomorrow to help in a fundraising event for Samoan tsunami disaster relief. The league player will come out of retirement to play for his mother's homeland against the best from New Zealand's in a benefit match to be televised by Maori Television.

Kearney already planning for Four Nations test against Australia: The kiwis might be playing in Tonga next week but coach Stephen Kearney is already planning for the opening test of Rugby League’s Four Nations against Australia. He is missing four players still celebrating the NRL final and the test against Australia in London is in just over two weeks, which is why there is no time to waste against Tonga on Wednesday.

Fien motivated by Anzac humiliation: Nathan Fien is drawing greater motivation from the Kiwis' last-up defeat than their World Cup heroics a year ago as he prepares for the inaugural Four Nations rugby league tournament. Fien was one of the stars of New Zealand's cup campaign, twice named man of the match in the latter stages of the event after he was switched from hooker to halfback.

Tonga boast star power for Kiwis Test: Parramatta utility is the headline act in Tonga's squad for the rugby league Test against New Zealand in Rotorua next Wednesday. Mateo is set to line up 10 days after being in the beaten Eels side in the (NRL) grand final against Melbourne.

Coach confident Moimoi committed to Kiwis: Stephen Kearney believes Fuifui Moimoi will play for the Kiwis, despite claims he should be playing for Tonga and not NZ. Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney remains confident prop Fuifui Moimoi is committed to New Zealand, despite the eligibility issue being raised again. Tongan assistant coach Mark Tookey believes Moimoi should be playing for his side, after competing for Tonga the World Cup and being named in an extended squad. But Kearney says he spoke to Moimoi last week, when he again reiterated his desire to represent the Kiwis. There has been a surprise visitors to the Kiwis camp in Auckland. Halfback Thomas Leuluai has joined up with the team from his UK base, ahead of next week's test against Tonga. Leuluai's Wigan side was knocked out of the Super League playoffs at the weekend, and rather than wait for the team to arrive in the UK he has opted to come home. Source: Radio Sport, 08 October 2009)

Wiki leads aid effort: KIWI legend Ruben Wiki will spearhead a rugby league benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort. New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chief executive Jim Doyle says Wiki, the former Kiwis captain and Dannemora resident, is coming out of retirement to be a guest player for the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) against a Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm. Kearney charged with building World Cup squad: Building depth for the future is the prime focus of coach Stephen Kearney as the Kiwis head into the Four Nations. Given that a contract extension he signed yesterday should keep him at the helm until their World Cup title defence in 2013, it's an entirely understandable approach. "I've said it before that winning the World Cup was great for everyone involved in the group, for our game and for our country, but it has gone," Kearney said.

From Rwanda to Kiwis for young forward: A year ago, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was helping build orphanages in the war-ravaged African nation of Rwanda. On Wednesday, the second rower joined the rest of the Kiwis in camp to prepare for the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France starting on October 24. Waerea-Hargreaves, 20, is one of seven uncapped players in coach Stephen Kearney's squad of 23, who assembled in Auckland ahead of a one-off test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday.

Kiwis coach keen to develop young talent: Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney’s new squad assembled in Auckland today and it is pretty new, almost a third of the 23 members are first timers. And Kearney is keen to stick around and develop the young talent. He has signed on for another four years in charge. He says it is “hard to find someone over 30 again, that's just the trend of the game. What excites me is we've got some real talented kids there”.

Kearney 'given chance to lift NZ game': Coach Stephen Kearney sees his appointment for another four years as a chance for stability ahead of New Zealand's defence of rugby league's World Cup in 2013. The announcement that Kearney had signed a new contract came as the Kiwis assembled in Auckland on Wednesday to prepare for a one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday. The New Zealand squad then head to London, where they face Australia on October 25 (NZT) in the opening match of the inaugural Four Nations tournament.

Kearney to stay past next league world cup: The New Zealand rugby league coach Stephen Kearney has signed a new four-year contract that will take him through to the Kiwis' world cup defence in 2013. The news comes as the national side begins a training camp in Auckland ahead of the Four Nations tournament in France and England. The Kiwis face Tonga in a one-off Test at Rotorua next week. Just three days ago the Melbourne Storm, Kearney's main employers - he's the assistant coach - won the NRL grand final. Kearney says the job stability will be good for the whole team as he can stay working with this group of players and set some real standards. Across the Tasman, the former prime minister John Howard has been approached by league officials to become the inaugural chairman of an independent commission to run the NRL, according to reports from News Limited. Howard, who's 70, is seen as a distinguished, statesman-like figure with no ties to either the News Limited or factions. Source: Radio New Zealand, 07 October 2009

Maori players step up for kiwi league team: Young Maori playing their rugby league across the Tasman have forced their way into the new look Kiwi team to play Tonga next week. Selector says Australian-born Bulldogs' winger Bryson Goodwin qualifies through his grandmother's Waikato whakapapa.

Kearney Signed As Kiwi Coach Through To 2013 : Auckland, New Zealand, October 07, 2009 - World champion coach Stephen Kearney today signed a new four-year contract through to the Kiwis' World Cup title defence in 2013. The announcement came as the Kiwis assembled to prepare for their 2009 Four Nations campaign, beginning with a camp in Auckland ahead of their one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua tomorrow.

Kearney to lead Kiwis’ World Cup defence: Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney today signed a new four-year contract which will take him through to the defence of the rugby league World Cup in 2013. The announcement came as the Kiwis assembled in Auckland ahead of their Four Nations campaign in England and France which begins later this month. The new contract comes three days after Kearney, 37, helped Melbourne Storm win the National Rugby League title as assistant coach. Source: TV3 News, 07 October 2009

Knights star charges into NZ squad: EVER since he was annihilating GPS athletics records at Ipswich Grammar School, it was only a matter of time before Junior Sau was unleashed on the international rugby league stage. Overlooked for Samoa in last year’s World Cup, the hard-running centre gets his chance when he represents reigning World Cup holders New Zealand at the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France. Speaking to the QT yesterday, Sau was excited at the prospect of making his international debut.

Harrison selected for four nations: forward has capped of a tremendous first year at the club, with selection for New Zealand in the upcoming four nations tournament. Harrison has been an instrumental part of the Kiwi lineup since the start of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup where he was a part of the winning New Zealand team and has maintained his spot in the squad in the back row. Challenges for Kearney in Four Nations: Kiwis coach Steve Kearney still has some decisions to make after naming his squad for the Four Nations tournament. Unavailabilites have forced Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney to name seven debutants in his squad for the upcoming Four-Nations league tournament. Close to a dozen first- choice players are injured, while Roosters centre Setaimata Sa was not considered after being charged with assault.

Fuifui Moimoi cleared to play for New Zealand: THE game's rubbery international rules have cleared the way for Parramatta cult hero Fuifui Moimoi to return to the New Zealand squad for the Four Nations tournament. Moimoi was named in a 23-man squad by the Kiwis yesterday - less than 12 months after taking the Rugby League International Federation to court in an attempt to change his allegiance to Tonga.

Wiki to make comeback in benefit match for Samoan Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund: Kiwi rugby league legend Ruben Wiki will spearhead a New Zealand Rugby League benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort. NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle today announced the former Kiwi captain is coming out of retirement to be a guest player for the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) against the Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday.

Leuluai named for NZ squad - Wigan half-back to represent Kiwis: Thomas Leuluai is the only Super League player named in New Zealand's 23-man squad for the one-off Test against Tonga and the Four Nations series in England and France. The Wigan half-back, who featured in the Kiwis' 2008 World Cup-winning side, is included in the squad that features seven uncapped players, with Leeds full-back and Warrington back rower not named.

Leuluai makes Kiwi squad: Wigan half-back Thomas Leuluai is the only Super League representative in a 23- strong New Zealand squad. Leeds full-back Brent Webb and Warrington back-row forward Louis Anderson were omitted when the squad for a one-off Test against Tonga and the Four Nations was trimmed. stand-off will captain a squad shorn through injury of several experienced players. New Zealand squad to play Tonga and in the Four Nations: A Blair, Eastwood, Fien, Foran, Goodwin, Harrison, Hohaia, Inu, Leuluai, Lima, Locke, Luke, Marshall (capt), Matai, Matulino, Moimoi, Nightingale, Nuuausala, Perrett, Pritchard, Sau, Soliola, Waerea-Hargreaves. Source: www.teletext.co.uk 05 October 2009)

Get To Mt Smart And Support Tsunami Victims This Saturday: Mt Smart Stadium is getting in behind a benefit match being held by the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort. ARC Chairman Mike Lee says the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) will be waiving all charges for the use of the Council-owned stadium and urges Aucklanders to get along to the game between the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) and the Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday (10 October).

Seven newcomers in Kiwis squad: Seven debutants have been named in the 23-man squad for the Kiwis' one-off Test against Tonga next week and the Four Nations in England and France. Coach Stephen Kearney said the 2013 World Cup was a key factor in the selectors' decision to choose first-time Kiwis Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Kevin Locke (Warriors), (Warriors), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (), Junior Sau (Newcastle) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly).

Canterbury and Auckland dominate Bartercard Premiership Selection to play Toa Samoa: Canterbury and Auckland provide 16 of the 18 players named today in the Bartercard Premiership Selection to play Toa Samoa Domestic at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland next Saturday. The New Zealand Rugby League has confirmed the fixture has become a benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort. It has also announced former Kiwi captain Ruben Wiki will line up for the Toa Samoa Domestic side as a special guest player.

Canterbury survive scare to make Bartercard Premiership Final: Top-ranked Canterbury is through to the 2009 Bartercard Premiership final but only after surviving a scare against Wellington in the competition's second semi-final on Sunday. Unbeaten in the regular phase of the six-team provincial championship, the Bulls were pushed all the way before taking the lead and then holding Wellington out to win 20-17 at Rugby League Park in Christchurch.

Australia wary of New Zealand ambush ahead of Four Nations Still mentally scarred by 2008's shock World Cup defeat, Australia will head to the Four Nations fearing another New Zealand ambush in London.

Australia will face the Kiwis at Twickenham's Stoop Stadium, with captain Darren Lockyer declaring the Kangaroos ready to re-establish themselves as rugby league's premier nation.

"The winner of this tournament will probably be No.1. It will be the same as the World Cup," Lockyer said.

"It will give the winning team bragging rights as No.1.

"We want to win to rectify what happened in the World Cup. We have moved on from the World Cup but, having said that, it isn't far from your mind. It is a reminder Australia teams can be beaten."

After their success in 2008's World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium, the Kiwis have shown how serious they are about the Four Nations by scheduling a one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua on Wednesday to round off their preparations. They are already in camp in Auckland.

In contrast, Australia's build-up has been far from smooth.

There are injury clouds over backrower (shoulder), utility (calf), fullback (hip) and prop (shoulder), while Canberra bolter has the flu and has been sent home to rest until Tuesday.

The Kangaroos do not re-convene as a squad until Tuesday when the players will have a full training session and go through a final fitness test.

The Australians, who fly out for England on Friday, fear the Kiwis have another attack planned at Stoop Stadium on October 24.

"There is a good chance that they will try to ambush us," ARL chief executive said.

"The Kiwis would love to beat Australia first-up.

"That would put the Kangaroos under enormous pressure. We would then have to beat England the following week in Wigan to stay alive in the tournament.

"New Zealand are the world champions, they have done this to us before."

Gidley's strained calf is causing the most concern, but Kangaroos insiders maintain the Newcastle Knights star will definitely be on the plane on Friday.

Prop has not played since State of Origin II on June 24 because of a toe injury, but the Penrith skipper has allayed fears over his fitness.

"I've got no doubts I will be right to handle the games that are coming up," Civoniceva said.

"You've got an Australia jersey on, I'm not going to let anyone down."

Emphasising the anticipation surrounding this series, the BBC will cover the October 31 match between Australia and England in Wigan live.

Channel 9 and will screen the matches in Australia

(Source: By Dean Ritchie, Fox Sports, 12 October 2009)

Roos seek revenge over New Zealand in rugby league clash AUSTRALIA cannot regain rugby league's World Cup until the next tournament in 2013, but in the meantime they're determined to show title holders New Zealand who really is No. 1.

The Kangaroos' quest for trans-Tasman supremacy began with a 38-10 win over the Kiwis in Brisbane on May 8 and will continue in England in the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

England and France will start proceedings with a Test at Doncaster in Yorkshire on October 23. France shape as little more than cannon fodder while England will have to improve dramatically on their World Cup efforts to challenge Australia or New Zealand.

On Saturday, October 24 at The Twickenham Stoop in London, the Kangaroos and Kiwis will do battle at a ground that is home to the Harlequins league and union clubs.

The Kangaroos realise the Kiwis are far more dangerous when given time to build for one big effort as evidenced by last year's World Cup final in Brisbane and the 2005 Tri-Nations final in Leeds when the Wayne Bennett-coached side was humiliated 24-0.

Australian team manager Gavin Allen said yesterday the challenge for the Kangaroos was to maintain the intensity for 80 minutes – no matter what the opposition.

Allen said Australia may have suffered from "soft" build-ups last year and in 2005 with the Kangaroos thrashing Fiji 52-0 in a World Cup semi-final while Australia had an easy 44-12 win over France in a one-off Test before the 2005 Tri-Nations final.

New Zealand, however, had tough lead-up games – against England last year and Great Britain in 2005.

"Maybe we were a little under prepared last year and thought it would all happen on the night," Allen said. "We probably still should have won after leading 10-0 and bombing a couple of chances.

"But full credit to the Kiwis. They took full advantage and were deserved winners.

"We know how tough they're going to be this time, especially as they have a lead-up game against Tonga on Wednesday and we will go into the London match cold."

The Kiwis have been in camp in Auckland under coach Stephen Kearney for five days, although grand final players, , and only joined the team yesterday.

Both squads will leave for London on Friday and have a full week to acclimatise before "The Stoop" clash.

"I played a season with and you certainly learn what it is like to be anonymous in a big city like that," Allen said.

"Junior registrations for league in London are very good, but the crowd is going to be made up mainly of Aussies and Kiwis. Hopefully mainly Aussies."

Australia's second game will be on October 31 against England at JJB Stadium, Wigan.

England Super League grand final teams Leeds and St Helens will provide most of the players to coach Tony Smith's national squad.

Wests Tigers forward will supply Smith with inside information on the Australians given his successful season in the NRL under Kangaroos coach .

South Sydney-bound prop from Bradford missed the World Cup because of injury and England expect big things from him this year.

Australia's third match is against France in Paris on November 7 with former England halfback Bobby Goulding having succeeded Australian John Monie as French coach. Goulding has called on Perpignan-based Australians Casey McGuire and Clint Greenshields under the residency rule but Villeneuve-Sur-Lot product Olivier Elima will captain the French.

If all goes to plan Australia will play either England or New Zealand in the final at , Leeds on November 14 in what shapes as record-breaking Kangaroo skipper Darren Lockyer's last representative match, with the 32-year-old expected to concentrate on club duties with Brisbane next year.

While the Four Nations is being held in the northern hemisphere, the Pacific Cup will be staged in Papua New Guinea with the winning side to be given the honour of contesting next year's Four Nations alongside the Kangaroos, Kiwis and English.

Fiji made the World Cup semi-finals last year, but PNG were in the same pool as Australia, England and New Zealand and with home ground advantage are favourites to win the Pacific Cup under former skipper Adrian Lam.

A European Cup involving Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Lebanon, Serbia and Russia will also be held, with the final to be played at Bridgend, Wales on November 8.

(Source: Steve Ricketts, Courier Mail, 11 October 2009)

Four debutants for Kiwis in Tonga Test Four of the Kiwis' seven newcomers will make their international debuts in Wednesday night's one-off Test against Tonga at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Coach Stephen Kearney has named Newcastle centre Junior Sau, Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin and Sydney Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala in the starting line-up while Rotorua-born Jared Waerea- Hargreaves is included on the interchange bench.

Also named in the combination are two of the Kiwis' four players involved in last Sunday's NRL grand final.

Premiership-winning Melbourne prop Jeff Lima is starting in the front row while his Storm team-mate Adam Blair is on the bench.

"Tonga will give us exactly the opposition we're looking for as start a new campaign. For us, nothing matters but this Test at the moment," said Kearney.

"It's a good way to introduce four of our new boys to test football. The Tongans have plenty to look forward to with the Pacific Cup coming up and we'd expect them to make it a tough night for us."

The match is important in terms of the Kiwis' preparation for their campaign in the inaugural Four Nations in England and France and it also serves as a build-up for Tonga's bid in the forthcoming Pacific Cup in Papua New Guinea.

The winner of that tournament will be the fourth side involved alongside the Kiwis, the Kangaroos and England in the 2010 Four Nations in New Zealand and Australia.

The Kiwis will defend the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy on Wednesday night, a trophy first contested when the New Zealanders met Tonga ahead of the World Cup last year; it will be at stake whenever New Zealand plays one of the Pacific nations.

Other features of the selection for the Test against Tonga are the pairing of Nathan Fien at halfback and captain Benji Marshall at standoff with Manly's recalled in the centres after missing the end of the World Cup tournament and this year's Anzac Test.

South Sydney's , who missed the Anzac Test through suspension, returns as the starting hooker while Wigan's Thomas Leuluai - the run-on dummy half in the 2008 World Cup final - is on the bench.

Returning after last playing for the Kiwis in the 2008 Centenary Test against Australia is Penrith back rower .

(Source: TVNZ 11 October 2009)

Warriors reject who battled back Frank-Paul Nuuausala remembers it well. It was the end of 2005 and he was called into Ivan Cleary's office.

He was an 18-year-old from the mean streets of Mangere and Otara but had been on the Warriors books since he was 14. He had often been described as the next Ali Lauitiiti so a life as a successful first-grader, he assumed, was certain.

Cleary didn't think so. He was taking over as Warriors coach in 2006 and he needed to make some decisions. This one wasn't difficult.

"I remember Ivan took me in the room and said I was never going to make it because I didn't know what hard work was," Nuuausala says.

"'You have all the talent in the world but you don't know what hard work is'. That has stuck in my head ever since I left the Warriors. That's part of my motivation. I need to thank Ivan for it. It opened my eyes.

"I was going to give up footy [after that]. I was hanging around people ... I don't like talking about it. I was probably going to be a bum. Start drugs. Drift away.

"I grew up in a rough neighbourhood. I took things for granted and thought I was going to stroll in and become a first-grader without having to work hard."

Nuuausala weighed 109kg when he was on the cusp of the Warriors' first-grade squad but it ballooned out to an unmanageable 120kg by the end of 2005. Something had to give, and it wasn't the Warriors.

It has been a remarkable transition for Nuuausala. Now 22, he's trimmed down to 105kg and has just come off a season where he played all 24 games for the Roosters.

By the end, he was commanding a starting place and it helped convince the Kiwis selectors he was worthy of a spot in their 23-man squad for the upcoming Four Nations. He will do well to oust any one of Fuifui Moimoi, Adam Blair and Jeff Lima from the propping rotation but that's the goal.

"I never thought I would make the Kiwis," he says. "This year I just wanted to play first grade every week and make the starting team."

It was the guidance of veteran second-rower Craig Fitzgibbon that made that possible.

Even after Cleary's brutal assessment, Nuuausala did little to turn things around. He went back to high school before signed him to the Roosters.

Even then he meandered along in the under-20s and premier league. He was homesick but used this as an excuse.

"I just cruised through again," he says. "I was in the comfort zone. I thought I had already made it. That was until the last two years and I realised how Fitzy works. I saw how he trains, how he eats and how professional he is.

I just needed someone to steer me in the right direction.

"He really helped me along. He put me under his wing and I have really knuckled down. I call him like my older brother. He's my inspiration. I have a lot to thank him for."

Perhaps the biggest advice came in the kitchen. Fitzgibbon advised him on how to eat properly and would often turn up at training with a new recipe for Nuuausala to try.

His favourite, he says, was chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto stuffed with spinach and feta. It was quite different to the island food - "mum's cooking" - he had been used to.

"At training, Fitzy would say, 'Frankie, you need to try this [recipe]'. I would try it and text him to tell him if it was good or bad. '

The 32-year-old Fitzgibbon is joining Hull FC next year and won't be around to hold Nuuausala's hand.

The apprentice still has the potential for his weight to become an issue again but he would do well to remember what it felt like to carry a few extra kilos and be beaten in pre-season training runs by middle-aged club staff. "I am my own man now," Nuuausala says confidently. "Fitzy taught me everything I need to know. It will be harder with him gone but I can still talk to him.

"I reckon Australia was the best thing for me. To get away from it all."

Cleary would probably agree.

(Source: Michael Brown, Herald on Sunday, 11 October 2009)

In the name of the father Bryson Goodwin has had something of a split personality since he was a youngster.

One side of him was rooting for Australia, the country of his birth and the nation his famous father 'Lord' Ted played four tests for in the early 1970s. The other was supporting New Zealand, his grandmother's country and the nation he will make his international debut for in the coming days.

"I used to go for whoever was winning when I was a kid," Goodwin says with a laugh.

Now, though, there are no such quandaries. He is a Kiwi. Just one who speaks with an Australian accent.

Goodwin qualifies for New Zealand through his Maori grandmother and last year played for New Zealand Maori, a side coached by his brother Luke, who once played for the Western Reds.

Another brother, Bronx Goodwin, plays for the Sharks.

Bryson's imminent test debut will establish a first - the first time a father has played for Australia and his son for New Zealand.

Lord Ted made a name for himself during the legendary days when St George were the biggest club in the competition.

They won a record 11-straight premierships in the late 1950s and into the 1960s and were still a powerful side in the 1970s.

Goodwin was a fullback famous for his weaving S runs. He was, as former Wests coach Roy Masters described him, a "walking contradiction".

"He was a man with a dancer's feet and the start of a sumo belly, a paper-lantern grin and a wicked glare," Masters wrote.

He will forever be remembered for his deeds in 1977, when he knocked himself out crashing into the hard turf at the just moments after scoring a spectacular solo try in the drawn grand final with Parramatta.

He played in the replay the following week and scored six goals and a field goal in the Dragons' 22-0 victory.

"I enjoy listening to his stories and we used to watch the grand final on tape," Bryson says.

"Dad always let me do what I wanted. He didn't push me. If I asked for help, he would help, but he would never step in.

"He's happy for me whatever I do. He's happy I'm here [with the Kiwis]. It's a chance to play for an international team."

Naturally, the comparisons are never far from the minds of people old enough to remember his father's deeds.

But he is just one of a handful of famous offspring. In last weekend's grand final alone, there was Daniel Mortimer (son of Peter), (son of Rod), Eric Grothe jnr (son of Eric snr) and (son of Manoa Thompson).

"I grew up in Perth and it's more of an AFL town so [the comparisons weren't] too bad," Goodwin says. "It was when we moved to Sydney that you realise how good he was. The comparisons started coming when I got older." Goodwin has gone some way to developing his own reputation. He had a terrific season in 2009, scoring 20 tries in 24 games playing on the wing for the Bulldogs.

His last was the try early in the preliminary final defeat to the Eels when he was controversially kneed in the head by Hayne moments after touching down.

They lost that game but the Bulldogs have already been installed as favourites in 2010 after their remarkable turnaround.

One thing that has been highlighted as a reason for their success was the number of new players who came in not scarred by what went on at the club before. Goodwin was one of them, arriving after two seasons with the Sharks.

He played only nine NRL games in that time as he struggled to get a look-in under Ricky Stuart.

"I needed a new start so I was happy I left the Sharks and joined the Bulldogs," he says. "It was good for me. As soon as I started pre-season training, I felt comfortable there.

"I didn't expect to be named in the 45-man [train-on] squad. I pledged my allegiance [to New Zealand] straight after I got picked. I'm stoked to be here."

(Source: Michael Brown, Herald on Sunday, 11 October 2009)

The Nu-look Kiwi New Kiwi Frank-Paul Nuuausala might be affectionately known by his Roosters team-mates as "Frank-Paul The Wrecking Ball" but when he turned up to start training late last year during the pre-season, "Frank the Tank" might have been a more appropriate moniker.

At the ripe old age of 21, the talented young prop from south Auckland, who joined the Roosters from the Warriors' development squad as an 18-year-old, returned to work from holiday complete with a gigantic spare tyre around his waist.

Nuuausala tipped the scales at a whopping 126kg, and while he might well be "big boned", in his heart he knew things were looking bleak.

With his NRL contract up at the end of the 2009 season, the young Kiwi, buoyed by the unwavering support of his team-mate Craig Fitzgibbon, began a rigorous training regime to slim down.

And 12 months later, it's a more svelte Nuuausala – one 23kg lighter to be exact – that sits on the concrete steps before his first training run with the Kiwis ahead of the upcoming Four Nations tournament in Europe and ponders just how much can happen in a year.

"I'm excited and shocked. I never thought I would be here this year," he told Sunday News. "It's just a buzz really.

"Mooksy (Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney) pulled me aside after the last training session for the train-on squad and said to me I'd made it.

"I was speechless. I didn't know what to say so I just said `thank you'."

Nuuausala's rise from talented but tubby NRL youngster to Kiwis prop is the stuff of fairytales.

But he knows without the support of Roosters and Kangaroos veteran Fitzgibbon, he would probably be sitting in a dingy KFC restaurant having a "feed" rather than donning the black jersey in the coming weeks.

"Man, I've lost a heap of weight," he said.

"Last year, I came back for the Roosters' pre-season and I was about 126kg. There's no beating around the bush. I was pretty fat at the time.

"My contract was running out at the end of this year and I was thinking I was going to get cut if I didn't do something about it.

"I love the Roosters and didn't want to leave so I knuckled down and since then I've lost the weight. "I'm down to about 103kg now.

"Without Craig helping me behind the scenes, I reckon I'd still be about 120kg, without a contract and certainly not sitting here as part of the Kiwis squad.

"I guess I just needed someone to steer me in the right direction and he was willing to do just that."

While Nuuausala's weight-loss regime involved plenty of hard, gruelling training, the famous Fitzgibbon diet also kept him slim.

"Fitzy took me underneath his wing," he said. "He's steered me in the right direction in terms of nearly every area of my life.

"He taught me how to train properly, how to eat right and how to be a professional.

"He is a real mentor for me.

"I try and eat the same food as Fitzy these days. Things like chicken, fresh meat – all prepared right – and I avoid processed food now."

With Fitzgibbon cracking the whip, Nuuausala has managed to keep on top of his weight for the whole season and with it he was rewarded not only with Kiwis selection but also a new two-year deal with the Roosters.

"I never want to go back to being overweight," he said.

"Fitzy taught me all the stuff I need to do. He's the boss and I don't want to let him down. The last thing I want to see is those big, blue eyes of his staring at me!

"On Sunday morning, he rang me at home while I was sleeping after he'd heard I'd made the Kiwis squad.

"He was pretty proud, I think."

(Source: Aaron Lawton, Sunday News, 11 October 2009)

NZ gets cash pledge despite venue Any chance of the annual Anzac test being played in New Zealand this decade have been scotched by NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle, with the league ready to sign off on plans to take the 2010 test to Olympic Park in Melbourne for the first time.

Doyle told the Star- Times it was now 90% certain the annual test would move to Melbourne, instead of Brisbane, where the game has been held in four of the past five seasons.

The Australian Rugby League have pledged to the Kiwis that New Zealand will still make the same profit from the game, even though it's likely to attract a much smaller crowd in Melbourne, with a substantial financial injection from the Victorian state government to cover any shortfall.

Doyle said the Anzac test is worth up to $500,000 to the NZRL when it's played in Brisbane, but could return just $50,000 if it was played in New Zealand.

"We've told the Australian Rugby League we'd love to play the Anzac test here," Doyle said. "In four to five years' time, we'd hope that we would be in a financially secure enough position that we could forgo that money to hold the game here."

Doyle says he's confident of meeting his pledge to hold at least one home test every year by finalising a deal within the month with the new Eden Park Trust Board for the Kiwis to play Australia, and England to play the Pacific Cup champions in a Four Nations double- header in Auckland next year.

Meanwhile, after Canterbury beat Auckland in last Sunday's final of the national provincial premiership, the NZRL are to appoint a competition advisory group to come up with a new domestic structure for next season. The premiership had just six teams, down from a peak of 14 in the old .

(Source: Steve Kilgallon, Sunday Star-Times, 11 October 2009)

Pressure on for Tonga tickets When team manager Gordon Gibbons doles out the standard allocation of four complimentary tickets to each Kiwi player before Wednesday night's test with Tonga, two will begin mercilessly pursuing their team-mates to hand over their spare passes.

Players such as Nathan Fien, whose family are in Australia, will be the first targets for debutants Jared Waerea- Hargreaves and Frank-Paul Nuuausala.

Between them, the Manly backrow and Roosters frontrow could probably fill half the main stand at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Nuuausala is the second-eldest of 13 children, seven of whom still live at home with his parents in Otara, South Auckland. He says most of them came to the airport to welcome him home on Tuesday. "The boys who were born in Australia might hook me up with some tickets," says Nuuausala, who is waiting for the family to put in their final ticket request.

"It teaches you how to share," he says of his childhood. "I'm not greedy. You get a new shirt, and you see your brother wearing it the next morning."

A Warriors junior, he left for Australia at the age of 17, and admits: "I had a bit of space, but I missed having my family around because I am used to always having people around me."

Waerea-Hargreaves was born and raised in Rotorua until he was nine and his mother returned to live there again 12 months ago.

Asked how many relatives will be expecting tickets, he said: "About a thousand. I've said to the boys, if anyone has any spare tickets, let me know and I will sort you out in England, because I don't know anyone there. Hopefully I get a few spare tickets so I can bring half of Rotorua along."

The Kiwis were heading south from Auckland today via Tauranga, giving them plenty of time to sample the city's tourist attractions before Wednesday night's game.

But Waerea-Hargreaves knows how he'll be spending his free time. "I won't be going on the luge or the gondola: my mum will be grabbing me by the ear and taking me to see all the relatives to learn about the old times."

(Source: Steve Kilgallon, Sunday Star-Times, 11 October 2009)

Kiwis tour is no holiday in the sun With the NRL done and dusted, it's now time to focus on the Four Nations tournament in England and France. With seven rookie Kiwis on board, it is a case of in at the deep end and let the hard work begin.

After months of planning, the Four Nations is almost upon us.

Most of the boys assembled in camp on Tuesday night in Auckland with those involved in last week's NRL Grand Final arriving last night.

For me, things didn't get off to a great start. My flight to Auckland from Melbourne was cancelled on Tuesday night and it wasn't until Wednesday morning that I arrived, albeit via Christchurch!

Of course, if my only complaint is a cancelled flight things must be going pretty well.

On Wednesday, the lads had a fairly tough training session. Rather than ease into things, I felt it was important to start as we mean to continue by setting a solid base.

The Four Nations in the UK and France is a wonderful opportunity as a group to set some high standards.

We followed up Wednesday's run with another strong training session on Thursday. A predominant area we have been focusing on is our defensive structures and at this point in time I'm happy with our progress.

On Wednesday night, We had a former Kiwis and league legend – – talk to the group.

He addressed the lads and management team, highlighting how we all have a responsibility to the country as representatives of the Kiwis. He pointed out that 751 men have pulled on the black jersey in the last 100 years.

It's a fairly exclusive club and being part of it is a privilege, not a right.

There's a real bubbly feeling about the camp and before any tour there's always a sense of excitement throughout the group.

Having spent a few days with our new squad, I'm pleased with the mix we have.

The new boys – Kieran Foran, Bryson Goodwin, Kevin Locke, Ben Matulino, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Junior Sau and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – are settling in well and that's always a positive sign.

At the same time, our preparation ahead of the Four Nations is going to be somewhat disrupted by circumstances beyond our control.

I had to fly back to Melbourne on Friday for the Melbourne Storm's awards presentation before returning yesterday.

One of our boys – – is getting married next week – just after our test against a very strong Tonga side – and our three Roosters lads will be attending the wedding. It's unavoidable and, as the boys know, family is a big part of this Kiwis set up so we'd never stand in the way of such an occasion.

The lads will fly back to Australia after the Tongan test before meeting up with the rest of the touring squad in England.

These are situations we know we can manage correctly and we expect the boys will hit the ground running when they arrive in the UK.

There has been a bit made of the fact we have selected seven rookies in our 23-man Kiwis squad.

No doubt our injury circumstance has had an influence on the makeup of the group. I'll make it very clear they have been selected because I feel they are the very best individuals to get the job done for the Kiwis and regardless of experience they will be expected to do that.

Having spent some time with the new boys I've been thoroughly impressed with them.

In talking to them during the last month or so, their enthusiasm and desire to play for the Kiwis has been evident, and I must say after an exhausting couple of weeks with Storm commitments, I'm really looking forward to this campaign and especially the opportunity to work with this exciting and talented group of individuals.

All-aboard for 2013My decision this week to extend my contract as Kiwis coach until the end of the 2013 World Cup was a no-brainer.

I'm excited about the direction rugby league in New Zealand is going and I want to be a part of it.

I look at the seven new boys in this year's Kiwis squad along with the recent changes to the NZRL's board and the appointment of new CEO Jim Doyle and I can't help but feel positive.

I also think it's important we look to continue fostering our league talent at levels below the Kiwis. Just look at the NRL's under-20s competition and there's so many young New Zealanders performing in that. They are Kiwis of the future and one of the big reasons I recommitted to the NZRL.

I would also like to send out a word of thanks to all the wives and partners of both the players and staff as they are left to deal with domestic duties by themselves when we're on tour.

When young children are involved this can be a real strain, so thank you very much for your sacrifice and commitment. It's certainly greatly appreciated.

And finally, it was wonderful to have Hugh McGahan and his family present at our family dinner on Thursday night. He is a true legend of the Kiwis and someone I've always admired.

Stephen Kearney is Kiwis coach and assistant coach at the premiership-winning Melbourne Storm

(Source: Sunday News, 11 October 2009)

Kiwis the winners as backrower skips war zone The Danger money would have been a lot more: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' rugby union contract was worth just $1500 when he turned down his father's offer to drive a forklift truck in a war zone.

Wayne Hargreaves has been a water purification engineer in the US military for the past seven years, totting up what his son thinks is "about eight" wars, including Cambodia (where he was kidnapped by guerrillas), Afghanistan, Somalia, Kosovo and Iraq, from where one phone call home was cut short.

"I heard a siren going off and he says 'I've got to go, son', he's hung up, and a couple of days later he rings back and tells me they were firing some Scud missiles at their base and they had to go 50 feet underground into some containers and hide," says Waerea- Hargreaves nonchalantly.

"He's a great bloke, he's done it all. He just loves every minute of it."

But fortunately for rugby league, the newest Kiwi - a giant 20-year-old backrow who admits he doesn't know his team-mates, he idolises them - overcame that admiration for his father to ignore his career advice.

When Waerea-Hargreaves was finishing school in Brisbane and preparing to move to Sydney to sign a development contract with the Waratahs Super 14 franchise, his dad rang. "He said 'why don't you come over with me and just drive a forklift or something'. I was like 'I'd rather go to Sydney, dad, and play a bit of footy'. He said that was fair enough."

Waerea-Hargreaves played for Australia in the under-19 rugby World Cup. He ended up watching New Zealand beat South Africa in the final, and said: "I sort of felt I should be wearing those colours, to be honest . . . in the back of my head, I was cheering for them".

But he didn't last long in rugby before NRL clubs loomed. Even though he'd never played league, his manager, Mike Newton, told him he was a league player playing rugby.

"I was saying 'yeah, yeah, sweet' and saying I would go, but all I really wanted to do was rugby union," he admits. "But I've thoroughly enjoyed rugby league, I've loved every minute of it really, and the last 12 months have gone so quickly, and here I am pulling on my colours for my country."

Waerea-Hargreaves says he's a nervous public speaker, but in truth he's an assured young man with a confident air, the product of living alone in Sydney since he was 17.

After just six games of NRL in this year's breakthrough season for Manly, he has signed a three-year deal with the Roosters for next season, partly he says, to stop his father "fundraising for me, and be a little bit more independent".

Waerea-Hargreaves emigrated with his mother from Rotorua in 1999, meeting his Wellington-born father for the first time. His mother has returned to Rotorua and is so excited about the prospect her son might play against Tonga in Wednesday's Four Nations warm-up test there, she's been ringing him every day to make sure he's doing extra training sessions. "She was saying 'make sure you're doing your kicking', and I had to tell her I don't even do the kicking," he says.

His father is equally fanatic. Hargreaves is in Kuala Lumpur this weekend, although he's playing golf, not dodging Scuds.

That said, he's back in Afghanistan again next month and despite the difficulties, watches most games on television.

"If I have a bad game, he lets me know," Waerea-Hargreaves says. "I ignore his calls for the next five days because he just wants to give it to me. He likes to say that he played a bit of footy; he always says 'when I was your age, I used to do this'. Once I see some footage, then I will believe him."

The baby of this squad, Waerea- Hargreaves may not play at all on tour, and he says he doesn't mind that prospect at all.

"It's like a rollercoaster ride, mate," he grins. "I'll just ride it, and see where it takes me."

(Source: Steve Kilgallon, Sunday Star-Times, 11 October 2009)

Kearney's Kiwis focus New Zealand's World Cup-winning coach Stephen Kearney is adamant he will only take on a club coaching role when the time is right for him.

The 37-year-old former Kiwi captain masterminded his country's stunning 34-20 win over Australia in last November's final despite his only experience of coaching at club level coming from his work as an assistant to Craig Bellamy with NRL champions Melbourne Storm.

Since that day in Brisbane, Kearney has been linked with almost every high-profile job to arise, while earlier this year his agent revealed Wigan had attempted to speak to him about the possibility of replacing Brian Noble.

But Kearney, who this week signed a new four-year contract with Kiwis, is insistent that he already has enough on his plate with his current workload and will only branch out on his own when he is ready.

'The circumstances would have to be right from my perspective,' he said.

'I have found already that juggling the two jobs I have at the moment is time-consuming enough and that is just working as an assistant.

'It is so hard to find the time and I am happy with the situation I have at the moment with a wonderful club and a wonderful coach.'

Melbourne's recent Grand Final win over Parramatta was its second Premiership in four years under Bellamy, Kearney and newly-appointed Wigan coach Michael Maguire.

Kearney's role in that success alone has been enough to bring his name into the spotlight, but he believes he still has plenty to learn ahead of the Four Nations series.

'I'm not impatient,' he said.

'There are a lot of young coaches in our game at the moment and, as I have mentioned, I am happy to bide my time. I am fortunate to have a great job with a great club and coach.

'For me, it would be finding the time to do everything. Even now, what I do is quite time-consuming, but I have a real vision for where we can take our game in New Zealand and I certainly want to be a part of that.

'That's a driving force for me and everyone involved. It's just making sure that I get the balance right because obviously my primary concern is Melbourne and I need to look after that as well as the Kiwi responsibility.'

Despite winning the World Cup, New Zealand remains third favourite to lift the Four Nations trophy behind Australia, who beat its trans-Tasman rival convincingly in this year's Anzac Day Test, and host England.

But Kearney is hopeful that being able to get his men together for a concentrated and longer period of time will help them recreate the form they showed a year ago.

'We always feel that Australia are the benchmark,' said Kearney, admitting that the Kangaroos deserve to lead the odds.

'When we played them in May, certainly up until half-time, we were with them, but we let in a try just before half- time and just after that knocked the stuffing out of us.

'That was an indication that we can compete, though, and in that respect we are very similar to the England side.

'I am confident in saying that Australia are the benchmark. We don't feel the pressure of winning the World Cup. It is an opportunity for us to compete at the top level again as a group.

'There are going to be a number of new guys in there for us and it's more of a challenge.

'It doesn't always matter how long you're together for, at the end of the day it's a matter of what you do in that time together so that's the important part. We need to get that right.

'But the five weeks together gives not only our team, but the other three teams involved in the competition, an opportunity to really build on things. No matter what you do, the five weeks are important.'

(Source: www.skynews.com.au 11 October 2009)

Core missing but Kiwis squad still looks good It wasn't that many moons ago that the Kiwis couldn't have coped if up to 10 of their best players were not available.

Take out Roy Asotasi (captain and NZRL Player of the Year 2007), Manu Vatuvei (2008 International Winger of the year), Jeremy Smith (NZRL Player of 2008), Simon Mannering (Warriors Player of the Year 2008), Taniela Tuiaki (2009 Dally M Winger of the year and the NRL's leading tryscorer until he broke his ankle), Sam Rapira (Warriors' best forward in 2009), Jerome Ropati, Sika Manu, Zeb Taia and Setaimata Sa and you remove the core of a very good side. It is the core of the World Cup-winning side.

But Stephen Kearney's present squad looks decent. They might not be able to topple a very strong Australia in the Four Nations and they will also face a stern test from hosts England but it is talented and certainly exciting for the future.

Perhaps the biggest compliment is the fact players like Ben Roberts, who helped guide the Bulldogs from last to second this season and was in career-best form, David Fa'alogo, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, , Eddy Pettybourne, , , and Brent Webb missed out.

It's also been a case of who to leave out in the crucial positions of the halves, hooker and fullback rather than who could fill in. New Zealand will always produce powerful props and explosive second-rowers, but teams can't win without a decent spine (1, 6, 7, 9).

There is far greater depth in New Zealand rugby league than before because of the number of players in the NRL. There is also a swathe of New Zealand-eligible youngsters running around in the under-20s competition and they will become the Kiwis of tomorrow.

What is also significant is the fact players are happy to choose New Zealand over Australia and the attraction of Origin football.

When Brian McClennan was Kiwis coach, he had about 45 NRL and UK Super League players to draw on. Today, that figure is much higher.

"It's hard to put a number on it but there are a bucketload," NZRL high performance manager Tony Kemp said. "We're hoping to put together an exact database of players.

"But we named a 45-man train-on squad and could have named 70. If you add in the under-20s competition, Harold Matthews and Jersey Flegg there are at least 240 players in the professional pathway into the Kiwis from under-16s through to senior level."

The draw

* Wednesday, October 14 vs Tonga, Rotorua * Sunday, October 25 (NZT) vs Australia, London * Sunday, November 1 (NZT) vs France, Toulouse * Sunday, November 8 (NZT) vs England, Huddersfield * Sunday, November 15 (NZT) Four Nations final, Leeds

The odds

Australia - $1.28 England - $5.50 New Zealand - $6 France - $101

(Source: Michael Brown, Herald on Sunday 11 October 2009)

Thousands rally for tsunami benefit match As a shipload of aid and able bodies steamed towards Tonga and Samoa on Saturday, others have spent the day in New Zealand passing the bucket around for more donations.

There were warm Pacific greetings for thousands turning up to Mount Smart for a Rugby League benefit match. Representatives of league's brother code are among those lending a hand and picking up a few pointers in the correct searing of sausages.

"Just a pleasure to be able to help a wee bit and with good company," says Graham Henry.

On the field, New Zealand's most capped league player Ruben Wiki emerged from retirement to lead the resident Samoan team in its challenge which they lost .

The crowd also payed respect with a minute's silence.

At the harbour's edge, there were songs of praise for the Defence Force aboard HMNZS Canterbury .

As they finished lashing down the last vital pieces of equipment, organisers of a huge charity drive arrived to a look at how the donations will reach those most in need.

The air shipment is now more a reconstruction effort than disaster relief, containing engineering vehicles, water purifiers and lots of wood.

It's a goodwill mission scheduled for five days at sea before the real work begins on the ground in Samoa.

(Source: TVNZ 10 October 2009)

Oz foray couldn't take the Kiwi out of Foran People who emigrate to new countries tend to go one of two ways; some fully assimilate and embrace their new land, others never really turn their eyes away from the mother country.

Kieran Foran, the Manly and now Kiwis five-eighth, is firmly in the latter group.

Foran's family moved to Australia when he was 9. Australia became the place where he lived, but it never became home. In many ways he did assimilate. He went to school, played footie for his local club Asquith Magpies and even represented Australia at schoolboy level.

But in other ways he never fully took the plunge - quite literally. In a Q&A on the NRL website he recounts how he doesn't swim at Sydney's famed beaches because he is scared of sharks.

An obvious question for a bit of an ice-breaker, then.

"Yes, I'm frightened of them," he says with no hint of smile.

Er, we'll move on then - something the 19-year-old's career is certainly doing.

A regular in Manly's NYC team since 2008, he made an immediate impression on his first taste of first grade against Canberra in round 15, scoring with his second touch after coming off the bench.

He went on to make nine more appearances at the senior level, scoring six tries, including one in Manly's 40-12 playoff defeat by eventual premiers Melbourne.

Those exploits were enough for Foran to get the nod ahead of in-form Bulldog Ben Roberts for the Kiwis' Four Nations tour, but he had already been in the selectors' sights for some time.

Former Kiwis standoff Tony Kemp, now a selector and the NZRL's high performance manager, first sighted Foran playing for Australia Schoolboys against New Zealand U18s in 2007.

"He was player of the day for the Aussies that day," Kemp said. "I spoke to him and his mother after that game about his passion to play for New Zealand."

It was an easy conversation.

"It was not really a decision at all," Foran said.

"This was always home. I was born here and bred here. I was never really thinking about green and gold."

He played for Australia at schoolboy level "purely because I was in school in Australia". That would have been music to Kemp's ears.

"The first thing is that you've got to want to wear the black jersey," Kemp said. "That is the culture we want to continue to develop. If you are umming and ahhing about which country to play for then you are probably not the right person to pick in a New Zealand side."

An intensive six weeks of instruction from was instrumental in Foran taking his game to a new level. Johns' schooling focused on how to read and run a game, what plays to put on when. It was a lot to absorb, but Foran believes he is now seeing the benefits of soaking up the master's wisdom.

"It was mind blowing. You'd go home with your pad and pen and spend half the night writing it down. He just loads the information into you, you can't really take it all in, you've got to go home and think about it. But you learn so much off a guy like that, you kind of stand there in awe."

With captain Benji Marshall occupying his first choice standoff position and other world cup final veterans Nathan Fien, Thomas Leuluai, Isaac Luke and all in contention for playmaking roles, Foran looks likely to be restricted to understudy duties.

Kemp, though, rates Foran's versatility, saying he has the ability to play centre, lock or even fullback.

"The other thing is that he is a very good size for a footballer. He is built in a really, really good body shape for a footballer. And his skill level is exceptional. It is exciting how good he is going to get.

"[Kieran] is going to be in the halves in the New Zealand side for a long time to come so this tour is an opportunity to put him in that environment and have a look at him."

Foran isn't the only young Aussie-reared prospect in the touring party. Big things are also expected of Manly teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and prolific Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin.

Kemp believes the trio are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the Kiwi talent that is being nurtured across the ditch.

"If you look through the Australian [junior] system there are a lot of very, very good Kiwis. The world cup win put us in the front of a lot of Kiwis' minds. It made the decision of the likes of Kieran a lot easier.

"In 2013 we are going to have a very, very good New Zealand team."

KIERAN FORAN Age: 19. Height: 180cm. Weight: 87kg. Position: Standoff. Club: Manly Sea Eagles. NRL games: 10.

(Source: Steve Deane, Weekend Herald, 10 October 2009)

Support from all quarters for NZRL's benefit match for tsunami disaster relief fund Entertainers, celebrities, the police and many others are turning out in force to back efforts to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort in the New Zealand Rugby League's benefit match at Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).

In the feature match, world record-holding former Kiwi captain Ruben Wiki (36) is coming out of retirement to play in Samoa's colours in the clash between Toa Samoan Domestic (Samoan Residents) and New Zealand's Bartercard Premiership Selection (3.30pm kick-off).

It will be the first time the part-Samoan Wiki has played for his mother's homeland after a career that featured a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis. He'll be the guest player - and 18th man in the squad - for a side otherwise made up entirely of players who are resident in Samoa. All have been affected in some way by the tsunami disaster. Toa Samoa Domestic will face a local side comprising players who appeared in the just-completed Bartercard Premiership. Of the 18-man squad, 16 are from the Canterbury and Auckland sides that contested the grand final in Christchurch, a match Canterbury won 26-20.

Today (Friday) Canterbury's Jonny Limmer, who'll captain the Bartercard side, and the rest of the squad had the thrill of being presented with their match jerseys by 2009 Kiwi captain Benji Marshall. The Kiwis' entire Four Nations squad was on hand for the ceremony.

Tomorrow's curtain-raiser (2.30pm kick-off) is a women's nine-a-side encounter between Fetu Samoa and an Auckland Invitational side captained by Kiwi Ferns captain Luisa Avaiiki.

Framed around the day will be all manner of entertainment after the gates open at 1.00pm. Starting at 1.30pm, the Pacific Music Awards Trust is providing performances from a line-up of artists including the Yandall Sisters, Lapi Mariner, Anonymouz, Natasha Urale, Cydel, and For Da Grind. The package will offer a taste of what's in store at upcoming tsunami benefit concerts.

Also providing assistance are the New Zealand Police with the supply of a mobile sound and stage set-up through 'DJ Lenny', a recruitment officer for the police.

While Wiki is coming back after a year on the sideline, the Mad Butcher also returns from retirement to man a barbecue. "Mate, if it's good enough for Ruben, then it's good enough for me". Every dollar earned by the Mad Butcher's barbecue efforts will go the appeal and will be matched dollar for dollar by a cash contribution to the appeal.

The effort also has support from the Auckland Regional Council. Chairman Mike Lee announced earlier this week that the ARC would be waiving all charges for the use of Mount Smart Stadium.

Tickets will be sold only at the gate tomorrow, $5 for adults, $2 for children aged 2-15, free entry for those under two and also free parking at the ground.

As well as the gate takings, there will be collection buckets around the ground. Together with contributions from the Butcher and Bartercard, it's anticipated the day will generate a healthy donation to the tsunami disaster relief fund.

The NZRL's effort is being organised in support of the Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal Charitable Trust.

(Source: www.voxy.co.nz 10 October 2009)

Success by Kiwis key to invigorating code The best thing that could happen to New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle's credibility drive would be for the Kiwis to perform at the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

Doyle was in Christchurch yesterday to meet the faithful and, more importantly, existing and prospective sponsors. The gist of what he had to tell them was that he was a successful, stand-up guy, running a respectable organisation with achievable plans for leading the domestic game out of the doldrums.

An achieving national team would go a long way towards convincing folk of that.

"We'll drive to increase participation [from 17,000] but our job will be made much easier if the Kiwis are successful and the Warriors are successful. If they're not, it's not to say we'll fail, but it'll be a damn sight harder."

The building blocks for the Kiwis side of things have at least been put in place, with coach Stephen Kearney re- signing until the 2013 World Cup.

"We wanted to focus on the future. Stephen's got a great attitude, a lot of respect from a lot of people, and he's had a lot of success for a young guy. He's got really good values and we've gone through the strategic plan with him and he's really keen to not just be the Kiwi coach, but actually be a major part in trying to create the future for league.

"That was really positive." One of the long-term assistants to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, Kearney's chances of becoming a head coach himself continue to rise. Fellow assistant Michael Maguire has just left the Storm to take the reins at English club Wigan, and Doyle said Kearney would be able to do something similar and still coach the Kiwis.

"As long as we make sure that there's the right people around him. If Stephen's focus, which it should be as a head coach, is to really coach the team, as long as all the details, all the logistics and everything else, is sorted out by the management, by NZRL and by the trainers, then there's no reason why not.

"But it would be logistically impossible if he went up to the UK, whereas if he's a head coach in Australia, and we've talked about that, we're both comfortable that we could still achieve what's required."

Reviving grassroots football might be more difficult, but Doyle is optimistic junior numbers can grow and that the game can be played in more schools.

He said rugby league was part of the fabric of New Zealand society and youngsters were crying out for an opportunity to play.

(Source: Hamish Bidwell, The Press, 10 October 2009)

Leuluai warns England will be a threat Wigan utility Thomas Leuluai has a warning about the threat England will pose in the inaugural Four Nations rugby league tournament.

England had a disappointing World Cup in Australia last year, beating just Papua New Guinea.

They had 50 points put past them by the Kangaroos before losing twice to eventual champions New Zealand, the second time at the semifinal stage.

Leuluai, a key member of the Kiwis' World Cup triumph, said the English players were still smarting over their poor results in that tournament.

"All year I've been hearing about how disappointed they are and how they should have gone better," he said.

"They have players with a point to prove and they'll be out to make amends. I think they'll be a lot different from the World Cup."

The Four Nations, in England and France, and starts with New Zealand facing Australia in London on October 25 (NZT).

Leuluai said the English would be helped by being at home, where wet weather could be expected to predominate during the course of the competition, which ends with the final in Leeds on November 15.

"They'll suit the conditions over there," he said.

"It's going to be raining and a bit mucky and a bit slow, and they have a real massive pack."

England are under a new coach in Tony Smith and they name their Four Nations squad after this weekend's British Super League grand final between St Helens and defending champions Leeds.

St Helens booked their place by beating Wigan last weekend, a result that led to Leuluai joining the New Zealand camp in Auckland on Wednesday.

The Kiwis have a one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday, and coach Stephen Kearney asked Leuluai whether he wanted to return or stay in Britain and link up with the Kiwis in London.

"I thought I'd come back instead of sitting back in England doing nothing for two weeks," he said.

"It might be a bit harder on the body, but at least I can be familiar with the boys and learn the patterns."

As with the World Cup, Leuluai is the only British-based player in the New Zealand squad.

At 24, he has 18 caps to his name, having made his test debut as an 18-year-old.

He has been used mostly at halfback by club and country, but has also operated at hooker and five-eighth. Having started the World Cup at halfback, he ended it as hooker, a position Kearney indicated Leuluai would again be considered for, at least initially.

"I'll be looking at Thomas through the dummy half area," he said.

"It's important for him to get a bit of an opportunity to train in that position."

However, that didn't necessarily mean Nathan Fien, also a hooking option, was set to continue with skipper Benji Marshall as the No 1 pairing in the halves.

"We went into last year's campaign with a certain mindset over who we wanted to play at No 7 and so on, but it ended up changing towards the end of the tournament," Kearney said.

"At this stage, I couldn't put my finger on it. In a week's time, the circumstances could change."

(Source: TVNZ 09 October 2009)

Samoan tsunami a worry for Leeds and St Helens Grand Final stars alike Samoa will contest the Pacific Cup next month but first up five of their players will face off in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

As the enforcer of the Leeds pack, one of Kylie Leuluai's first tasks in Saturday night's Super League grand final will be to make his mark on Tony Puletua, the formidable St Helens forward who represents one of the main threats to the Rhinos' hopes of clinching a third consecutive title. But on Sunday afternoon they will meet at Manchester airport as brothers in arms, with the shared goal of winning the Pacific Cup with Samoa, and providing a little sporting consolation to a people still reeling from the effects of last week's tsunami.

"We are all proud of our Samoan roots, but after what's happened I think everyone is even more determined to do their bit," explained Willie Poching, an assistant coach with Leeds who will coach the Samoa national team for the first time in a Pacific Cup tournament that also includes Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands and the hosts, Papua New Guinea.

"We're a close community up here playing rugby league in the north of England, not just Samoans but the other islanders and Kiwis and Aussies, too. Everyone has their difficult times when they're feeling homesick, and the last week has been especially difficult with everybody chasing around frantically to make sure our relatives are OK. We all stay in touch and help each other through."

Poching grew up in Auckland but his parents recently moved back to Samoa, so like Leuluai, Puletua, the Leeds forward Ali Lauitiiti and and Maurie Fa'asavalu of Saints, his reaction when news of the tsunami broke was panic. "It was last Tuesday night when my wife read about it on the internet, and I instantly phoned New Zealand and was relieved to find out that my mum was there. Then we had to chase up a couple of cousins in Samoa. Fortunately their mobiles were still working so we got through to them.

"It was a similar thing for Kylie and Ali at Leeds, and I know from speaking to Tony Puletua this week that the three Samoan boys at Saints were going through the same sort of calls. Fortunately I don't think any of us have been directly affected, but a couple of the Samoa-based boys in our national squad haven't been so lucky. They're already in New Zealand preparing for our Pacific Cup games, but they've been told that the waves have taken their houses, their cars, everything.

"One of the good things that's come out of this is the way that everybody has rallied round to do what they can, both in rugby league and just walking around up here in Leeds. In Australia they had a minute's silence before the Grand Final because the connections with Samoa are so strong and the two teams, Melbourne and Parramatta, made a donation of A$10,000 [about £5,600] which was matched by the NRL."

Across the Tasman Sea, Ruben Wiki, the former New Zealand prop who is the most-capped player ever in rugby league, will come out of retirement this weekend to represent Samoa for the first time in a trial match in Auckland that has now become a major fund-raiser. And even at St Helens last weekend, spectators were asked to remember the victims in a minute's silence before the derby against Wigan.

Poching has been leading efforts to raise funds from Britain. But he hopes to make a more direct contribution after the Pacific Cup. "I'd like to go back once our commitments are finished and do something hands-on to help out physically," added the 36-year-old, who has been based in Yorkshire since signing for Hunslet in 1998, and joined the Leeds coaching staff in 2007 after his playing career was curtailed by a knee injury.

Before then he hopes the Rhinos will maintain their 100% record at Old Trafford since he took on a backroom role, and that Samoa can bounce back from the disappointment of last year's World Cup, when a memorable win against Tonga was followed by a shock defeat by Ireland that cost them a possible semi-final place.

"Everybody involved walked away feeling that we had underachieved, and that has left us with some ground to make up," said Poching, who was assistant coach after captaining the team in the previous World Cup. "There's a big incentive for us because the winners will get to represent the Pacific in the Four Nations against England, Australia and New Zealand next year. But I guess our main priority is giving people a reason to smile."

(Source: The Guardian, 08 October 2009)

Wiki on side for Samoa Kiwi league hero Ruben Wiki will wear the blue of Samoa for the first time when he takes the field tomorrow to help in a fundraising event for Samoan tsunami disaster relief.

The league player will come out of retirement to play for his mother's homeland against the best from New Zealand's national competition in a benefit match to be televised by Maori Television.

New Zealand's most capped international, Wiki, 36, will play for Samoa Residents who are being hosted by New Zealand Rugby League against a Bartercard Premiership Selection.

It would be be a special moment, he said.

"This will definitely be a dream come true. I've always wanted to play for Samoa. It's the only thing in league that I haven't done."

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said there was no one better to spearhead its fundraiser.

"He played for New Zealand with so much pride and commitment but he has always been passionate about his Samoan heritage.

The Auckland Regional Council will waive charges for the use of stadium and fans can travel for free from 12.30pm on trains on all lines connecting to the Southern Line from Britomart.

After the game, fans with match tickets can travel for free on trains until 8.30pm.

The game will screen on Sunday between 2pm and 4pm.

On Monday, October 19, entertainers including Neil and Tim Finn, Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, , , Hollie Smith, Elemeno P and , will play in the I Love the Islands concert at Vector Arena.

The tsunami personally affected rappers Scribe and Savage, who lost their family villages and family members in the disaster.

Musicians will perform for free, and all the proceeds will go to the relief drive.

Gates open at 2pm. Adults $5, children under 15 free.

How to donate to tsunami relief operations:

Pacific Cooperation Foundation Deposits can be made at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government

Red Cross - Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz - Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144 - Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation - Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office

ANZ bank Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00

Oxfam - Make a secure online donation at Oxfam.org.nz - Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20

Caritas - Make a secure online donation at Caritas.org.nz - Phone 0800 22 10 22 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 4 11 11

TEAR fund - Make a secure online donation at tearfund.co.nz - Phone 0800 800 777 to specify Samoa the Philippines or Indonesia. You can also donate at CD and DVD stores.

Mercury Energy - Donate at mercury.co.nz or text the word Samoa followed by the amount you wish to pledge and your Mercury account number to 515 or by calling 0800 10 18 10. Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity is asking for help with the clean-up habitat.org.nz

(Source: Yvonne Tahana, New Zealand Herald, 09 October, 2009)

Kearney already planning for Four Nations test against Australia The kiwis might be playing in Tonga next week but coach Stephen Kearney is already planning for the opening test of Rugby League’s Four Nations against Australia.

He is missing four players still celebrating the NRL final and the test against Australia in London is in just over two weeks, which is why there is no time to waste against Tonga on Wednesday.

“I’m taking into account that we play Australia I think it would be 10 days later, so it's an important hit out for us in making sure that we put out the best possible side,” he says.

And Kearney is spoilt for choice in the key play making roles. Thomas Leuluai is a halfback in the UK but used to playing hooker for the Kiwis.

Isaac Luke is another option at nine while Dragons hooker Nathan Fien is more likely to partner Benji Marshall in the halves, as he did at the World Cup and in the loss to Australia earlier this year.

“I just want to get out there and represent New Zealand as best I can, whether that be at half or hooker or five eight or winger or prop, I’m happy to do the job,” says Fein.

And for once he is not just saying that. Fein feared his test jersey before he was released mid-season by the Warriors, the shift to St George rejuvenating his career.

“I got to play in a team which won the minor premiership… got to play finals football again which is always fantastic, personally the decision is a good one for me,” he says.

One decision that was not so good was Kangaroos rookie Brett White's wedding date.

The Melbourne Storm prop is due to get married the day after Australia head to Europe.

“I don't think he took that into account, which is a bit silly of him,” says Kearney.

With five more of Kearney's Storm players in the Kangaroos squad, the Kiwis coach hopes White's is a popular wedding.

(Source: TV3, 08 October 2009)

Fien motivated by Anzac humiliation Nathan Fien is drawing greater motivation from the Kiwis' last-up defeat than their World Cup heroics a year ago as he prepares for the inaugural Four Nations rugby league tournament.

Fien was one of the stars of New Zealand's cup campaign, twice named man of the match in the latter stages of the event after he was switched from hooker to halfback. But the Kiwis' success, which culminated in a shock 34-20 win over hot favourites Australia in the final in Brisbane last November, was history, he said in Auckland.

Fien pointed instead to the 38-10 loss New Zealand suffered to the same opponents and at the same venue in May.

"It's a great feat what we did last year, winning the World Cup, but that tournament is gone now, it means nothing," he said.

"We were disappointing in the Anzac Test this year. This competition is another way for us to earn the respect that we're world champions."

Fien was used at five-eighth in the Anzac fixture, partnering skipper Benji Marshall in the halves.

He said he had no idea where he would operate in the one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday, a dress rehearsal for the Kiwis before they leave for the Four Nations in England and France.

"I'm happy to play anywhere and to get the opportunity to put the black jersey on again," he said.

"Whether that's at halfback, hooker, five-eighth, winger or prop, I'm happy to do the job."

Despite his performances in the World Cup, Fien was given an early release by the mid- season, after four-and-a-half years and more than 100 appearances.

He joined St George , leaving a club struggling near the bottom of the NRL for one that was flying high.

"For me personally, it was a great move football-wise," he said.

"I got to play in a team that won the minor premiership and I got to play finals football again, which is also fantastic."

The Dragons have two representatives in the Kiwis squad in Fien and winger but only one, , in the Australian party after he was called up for the injured .

"I'm not worried about the Aussies to be honest," Fien said.

"Obviously, there have been a number of solid performances at the Dragons this year ... but I'm Kiwi and I'm just focused on our squad and on what we can do."

(Source: Brisbane Times, 08 October 2009)

Tonga boast star power for Kiwis Test Parramatta utility Feleti Mateo is the headline act in Tonga's squad for the rugby league Test against New Zealand in Rotorua next Wednesday.

Mateo is set to line up 10 days after being in the beaten Eels side in the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final against Melbourne.

He also played against the Kiwis in last year's equivalent contest, a build-up match for both sides before the World Cup which the Kiwis went on to win.

While Mateo again gives Tonga a high-quality performer he is not the only player with NRL experience in a team coached by Rohan Smith, son of long-time NRL coach Brian Smith.

Smith's squad include Manly winger Tony Williams, former New Zealand Warriors back rower and 2006-07 Kiwis international Epalahame Lauaki, Newcastle second rower Richard Fa'aoso, Cronulla's Melbourne-bound Atelea Vea, Viliami Mataka, of Wests Tigers, Parramatta's Etuate Uaisele and 2009 rookie Warrior Ukuma Ta'ai.

Ta'ai will become a double international after previously representing Tonga in test rugby.

Also named are former NRL players now playing in England, ex-Warrior Tevita Leo-Latu and .

Mateo, Latu, Fa'aoso, Manu, Lauaki, Williams, Uaisele and halfback Eddie Paea are among the group of players who appeared for Tonga at last year's World Cup. Tonga squad: Paki Afu, Richard Fa'aoso, Sam Huihahau, Toshio Laiseni, Tevita Leo-Latu, Epalahame Lauaki, Siuatonga Likiliki Pita Maile, Willie Manu, Viliami Mataka, Feleti Mateo, Eddie Paea, Nafe Seluini, Ukuma Ta'ai, Joel Taufa'ao, Sione Tovo, Etuate Uaisele, Siosia Vave, Atelea Vea, Tony Williams.

(Source: TVNZ, 08 October 2009)

Wiki leads aid effort KIWI legend Ruben Wiki will spearhead a rugby league benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chief executive Jim Doyle says Wiki, the former Kiwis captain and Dannemora resident, is coming out of retirement to be a guest player for the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) against a Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm.

Wiki, 36, retired after turning out for the All Golds against NZ Maori last October, ending a career which featured a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis and more than 300 NRL appearances.

“Ruben wanted to be involved in some way to help support our efforts to raise funds for the people of Samoa who suffered so terribly from the tsunami disaster,” says Mr Doyle.

“He played for New Zealand with so much pride and commitment, but he has always been passionate about his Samoan heritage. We couldn’t think of a better man to be involved in spearheading our relief effort.”

Mr Doyle says Rugby League Samoa (RLS) is keen for the game to go ahead despite the tsunami disaster.

“This Samoan side is made up entirely of players resident in Samoa, and given what has happened, we told them we would understand if they decided not to go ahead with the match we arranged some time ago.

“But the Samoans came back and told us it was important for them to play. They see this as helping them to connect with the Samoan community in New Zealand at this dreadful time.”

As well as the game between Toa Samoa Domestic and Bartercard Premiership Selection, there will be a women’s sevens match at 2.30pm between Fetu Samoa and an Auckland Invitational side led by Luisa Avaiiki, who captained the Kiwi Ferns to three World Cup titles.

Mr Doyle says gate proceeds from Saturday’s event along with other donations from a bucket collection will go to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.

The NZRL will also be involved in another fundraising appeal when it uses the test between the Kiwis and Tonga at Rotorua next Wednesday to collect money for victims of Tonga’s ferry disaster.

“This has been a sad time for Samoa and Tonga. Both countries have a very strong association with our game and all we can do is try to help in whatever way we can,” says Mr Doyle.

(Source: Howick and Pakuranga Times, 08 October 2009)

Kearney charged with building World Cup squad Building depth for the future is the prime focus of coach Stephen Kearney as the Kiwis head into the Four Nations.

Given that a contract extension he signed yesterday should keep him at the helm until their World Cup title defence in 2013, it's an entirely understandable approach.

"I've said it before that winning the World Cup was great for everyone involved in the group, for our game and for our country, but it has gone," Kearney said.

"We have to keep working to prove we can be consistently competitive. We also have to continue to do all we can to develop new test players. That's what we're committed to achieving over the next few weeks."

To that end, a 23-man squad containing seven potential new caps has assembled in Auckland for a 10-day training camp. Their first assignment is a test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday, a game that will be their first on home soil since winning the World Cup last November.

"To have the backing of the New Zealand Rugby League's board to continue on a long-term basis gives me confidence we can build on what we have started. I'm really grateful for the support," Kearney said.

The NZRL board viewed Kearney's extended time in the role as critical to the game's development, said chairman Scott Carter.

"Stephen isn't just the coach of the Kiwis - he is a key figure in our total strategy," he said. "What he and the Kiwis deliver at the top end has an enormous knock-on effect through all layers of the sport ..."

Kearney's coaching term is set to cover six years, a span bettered only by (1994-2000) in the modern era.

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said Kearney had contributed significantly to a new optimism in the code.

"While he has barely started at this level he has already given us something unique as the only Kiwi coach to win the World Cup, but he doesn't want to rest on that," said Doyle.

"His work with both the Kiwis and Melbourne has shown he is one of the most capable coaches in the game right now and we're fortunate we've secured him for the long haul."

Next Wednesday night's game against Tonga will be Kearney's ninth, a total which would grow to 13 should the Kiwis reach the Four Nations final in Leeds on November 14.

(Source: Steve Deane, New Zealand Herald, 08 October 2009)

From Rwanda to Kiwis for young forward A year ago, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was helping build orphanages in the war-ravaged African nation of Rwanda.

On Wednesday, the second rower joined the rest of the Kiwis in camp to prepare for the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France starting on October 24.

Waerea-Hargreaves, 20, is one of seven uncapped players in coach Stephen Kearney's squad of 23, who assembled in Auckland ahead of a one-off test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday.

His inclusion was probably the biggest selection surprise, given his limited experience.

He was a rugby player until two years ago, representing Australia in the 2007 under-19 rugby World Cup in Northern Ireland.

After switching codes and joining Manly, he made his National Rugby League debut this season, making six appearances for the Sea Eagles.

Waerea-Hargreaves said being included in New Zealand's original 45-strong train-on squad in August was a buzz in itself.

Making the cut for the tour party came "absolutely" as a surprise.

"It's happened so quickly," he said of his elevation from Manly's under-20s to the Kiwis.

"I'm just soaking it up and really enjoying it."

Waerea-Hargreaves grew up in Rotorua and moved to Australia as an eight-year-old to meet and get to know his father, Wayne Hargreaves, who had been in the headlines at the time.

While working as a peacekeeper in Somalia, Wayne Hargreaves was kidnapped by guerrillas and held for 16 days.

He continued to serve in other missions around the globe, including in Iraq. It was because of his father's time in Africa that Waerea-Hargreaves went to Rwanda last October with five other players.

The group included Parramatta second rower Nathan Hindmarsh and St George Illawarra prop Justin Poore, and they worked on a charity project near the capital, Kigali.

As a rugby union player, Waerea-Hargreaves operated as a blindside flanker.

He said he loved his time in the 15-man game, but was told by his agent that he was a rugby league player playing rugby union.

"I had always wanted to play rugby league but I hadn't gone that deep and actually made the move," he said.

"I ended up making it and it's been great."

Getting used to league was not as simple as he first thought and the transition did take time.

The hardest part was adapting to the 10m rule and the need to be moving constantly forward and back in defence.

"Watching rugby league, I thought it was going to be an easy game," he said.

"Then I played my first trial against Melbourne and I lasted only 11 minutes and I don't even think I did two hit- ups. I'm still learning the game and I hope to keep learning as I go along."

Waerea-Hargreaves is an imposing 1.90m and 110kg and his trademark on the field is his aggression.

However, there is also the touch of the gentle giant about him.

"I like to think I'm aggressive," he said.

"But when I get home, me mum sort of slaps me around the ears and says, 'what are you doing out there?'."

After two years with Manly, Waerea-Hargreaves is heading across town when he returns from the Four Nations, having signed a three-year contract with the Sydney Roosters.

(Source: TVNZ 07 October 2009)

Kiwis coach keen to develop young talent Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney’s new squad assembled in Auckland today and it is pretty new, almost a third of the 23 members are first timers.

And Kearney is keen to stick around and develop the young talent. He has signed on for another four years in charge.

He says it is “hard to find someone over 30 again, that's just the trend of the game. What excites me is we've got some real talented kids there”.

One of those talented kids is Jared Warea-Hargreaves. With only six first grade games, the Rotorua born 20- year-old is the greenest in the black and white colours.

“It's a dream come true, I’ve always wanted to put the blacks on and always do the haka, ever since I was a little fella,” he says.

Even 19-year-old Manly teammate Kieran Foran can not believe he has made the national side. The talented half is returning to the New Zealand fold after playing for the Australian Schoolboys team.

Kevin Locke was not even expecting to break into the NRL this year, let alone the Kiwis. Now he is looking to step up from the Warriors.

“Played a few good games and went down, but just didn't keep a consistent effort. I’m in the Kiwis now and I’ve got to try and get a consistent effort if I get the opportunity to play,” he says. Kearney is waiting for his NRL grand final players to arrive in camp this weekend before deciding who will get their first start against Tonga next week.

(Source: Di O’Connell, 3 News, 07 October 2009)

Kearney 'given chance to lift NZ game' Coach Stephen Kearney sees his appointment for another four years as a chance for stability ahead of New Zealand's defence of rugby league's World Cup in 2013.

The announcement that Kearney had signed a new contract came as the Kiwis assembled in Auckland on Wednesday to prepare for a one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua next Wednesday.

The New Zealand squad then head to London, where they face Australia on October 25 (NZT) in the opening match of the inaugural Four Nations tournament.

Kearney said he was pleased that the new contract had been agreed before the start of the campaign.

He said the issue was not about him, but about the team, and the length of his new deal meant the Kiwis could build on what had been started with the World Cup victory last year.

"It's for the team in terms of stability and consistency taking us through to the next World Cup," he said.

"It gives me the opportunity to set some real standards amongst the group. That how I see the benefit of the term."

Kearney, 37, gained 45 caps as a player and also captained New Zealand.

He took over as Test coach last year and, with Australian Wayne Bennett as his assistant, guided the Kiwis to their first triumph in the World Cup's 55-year history.

Kearney has also been Melbourne's assistant coach since 2006, during which time the Storm have made the NRL grand final each year, winning twice, including last weekend.

Missing when the Kiwis assembled were the four players involved in last Sunday's title decider - Melbourne's Adam Blair and Jeff Lima, and Parramatta's Fuifui Moimoi and Krisnan Inu.

They have been given time off and will join the New Zealand squad on Saturday.

Kearney indicated that he would probably field close to his top line-up against Tonga.

"Taking into account that we have to play the opening game about 10 or 11 days later, it's important that we get that mix right straight away," he said.

"I'll look at how we pull up over the next few days, wait for some drunken soldiers to come into camp and see how everyone is, and make an assessment from there."

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Scott Carter said the board viewed Kearney's extension as coach as critical to the game's development during a period of structural reform.

"Stephen isn't just the coach of the Kiwis - he is a key figure in our total strategy," he said.

"At a time when we're going through a transitional phase, putting new reforms in place as a result of our review, he's a vital leader who has done so much to both elevate and enhance the game's image."

(Source: Brisbane Times, 07 October 2009)

Maori players step up for kiwi league team Young Maori playing their rugby league across the Tasman have forced their way into the new look Kiwi team to play Tonga next week.

Selector Tony Kemp says Australian-born Bulldogs' winger Bryson Goodwin qualifies through his grandmother's Waikato whakapapa. Warrior Kevin Locke of Hauraki and Ngapuhi and Manly Sea Eagles back rower Jared Waerea-Hargeaves are also in the 23=man squad.

“He's a big raw boned Maori from Rotorua, someone who the selectors saw as having a bright future for New Zealand. The other one is Kieran Foran, he moved away from Auckland when he was 12, he is seen as one of the best halfback prospects we’ve seen come out of our country for a long time,” Kemp says.

Maori returning to the squad include captain Benji Marshall, , Lance Hohaia, Isaac Luke and . The Kiwis go into camp in Auckland today before moving to Rotorua on Saturday to prepare for a one-off Test against Tonga before flying to England for the Four Nations competition.

(Source: Waatea News 07 October 2009)

Kearney Signed As Kiwi Coach Through To 2013 Rugby League World Cup Auckland, New Zealand, October 07, 2009 - World champion coach Stephen Kearney today signed a new four- year contract through to the Kiwis' World Cup title defence in 2013.

The announcement came as the Kiwis assembled to prepare for their 2009 Four Nations campaign, beginning with a camp in Auckland ahead of their one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua tomorrow.

It's reason for double celebration for Kearney (37) coming just three days after he savoured more NRL grand final success as Melbourne's assistant coach in Sunday's 23-16 win over Parramatta.

"It's such a huge honour and a thrill being Kiwi coach," he said.

"To have the backing of the New Zealand Rugby League's board to continue on a long-term basis gives me confidence we can build on what we have started. I'm really grateful for the support.

"I've said it before that winning the World Cup was great for everyone involved in the group, for our game and for our country but it has gone.

"We have to keep working to prove we can be consistently competitive. We also have to continue to do all we can to develop new test players. That's what we're committed to achieving in the Four Nations over the next few weeks."

NZRL chairman Scott Carter said the board viewed Kearney's extended time in the role as critical to the game's development.

"Stephen isn't just the coach of the Kiwis - he is a key figure in our total strategy," he said.

"At a time when we're going through a transitional phase, putting new reforms in place as a result of our review, he's a vital leader who has done so much to both elevate and enhance the game's image.

"What he and the Kiwis deliver at the top end has an enormous knock-on effect through all layers of the sport, helping us to create a sound foundation for a healthy future."

In signing his new contract, Kearney coaching term is set to cover six years, a career span bettered only by Frank Endacott (1994-2000) in the modern era.

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said Kearney had contributed significantly to a new optimism in the code.

"While he has barely started at this level he has already given us something unique as the only Kiwi coach to win the World Cup but he doesn't want to rest on that," said Doyle.

"The board's decision to promote Stephen last year proved to be a masterstroke and now he has the security of knowing he can plan with a long-term goal in mind.

"His work with both the Kiwis and Melbourne has shown Stephen is one of the most capable coaches in the game right now and we're fortunate we've secured him for the long haul."

Next Wednesday night's clash against Tonga will be Kearney's ninth as Kiwi coach, a total which would grow to 13 should the Kiwis reach the Four Nations final in Leeds on November 14. He has joined a number of former Kiwis who have gone on to coach New Zealand, his time following a 45-test playing career from 1993-2004 and almost 300 top-level games in the NRL and the English Super League. He won an NRL premiership as a player with the Storm in 1999 and has been involved as assistant coach in each of their four successive grand final appearances since 2006 with victories coming in 2007 and this season.

STEPHEN KEARNEY

Born: June 11, 1972 Birthplace: Paraparaumu, NZ Coaching Career: Melbourne Storm assistant coach 2006- 2009 Kiwis head coach 2008-2009 2008 World Cup champions Overall Record: 8 Tests, 5 Wins, 3 Losses New Zealand Clubs: Kapiti Bears, Randwick Kingfishers NRL Career: 264 appearances, 1992-2004:

Western Suburbs: 46 games, 1992-94

Warriors (Club Number: 11): 79 games, 1995-98

Melbourne: 139 games, 1999-2004 NRL Points: 148 (37 tries):

Western Suburbs: 24 points (6 tries)

Warriors: 44 points (11 tries) Melbourne: 80 points (20 tries) English Super League: Hull FC, 2005: 22 games 16 points (4 tries) International Career: 45 tests for Kiwis, 1993-2004

36 points (9 tries)

Kiwi captain 2 tests, 1993 and 1997 Kiwi Number: 640

(Source: www.voxy.co.nz 07 October 2009)

Knights star charges into NZ squad EVER since he was annihilating GPS athletics records at Ipswich Grammar School, it was only a matter of time before Junior Sau was unleashed on the international rugby league stage.

Overlooked for Samoa in last year’s World Cup, the hard-running Newcastle Knights centre gets his chance when he represents reigning World Cup holders New Zealand at the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France.

Speaking to the QT yesterday, Sau was excited at the prospect of making his international debut.

“I’m pretty happy with it,” Sau said of his selection.

“At the start of the year I set myself a goal to make the end of year trip to England.

“I was just hoping that I did enough through the year to get selected.

“Fortunately it was.”

It’s been a tough week for the 22-year-old, with family members caught up in the aftermath of the Samoa tsunami.

“My dad’s brother and sister are over there, so we got a bit worried straight after,” he said.

“It took two days to contact them to find out they were okay.

“I could hear in my dad’s voice that he was panicking.

“It’s a big relief knowing they’re alright.”

Along with Sau, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has decided to blood newcomers Kieran Foran, back rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (both Manly), winger Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), fullback/winger Kevin Locke, second rower Ben Matulino (both New Zealand Warriors) and prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters).

“My team-mates think we can do it,” Sau said.

“It all depends on what happens on the day.

“You can pick a great side on paper, but it means nothing if you don’t perform on the field.”

Sau is joined in the 23-man squad by former Ipswich Jets three-quarter Steve Matai; the Manly enforcer now one of the senior members of the team.

The Kiwis will assemble in Auckland today and play Tonga in a one-off Test in Rotorua on October 14.

They open their Four Nations campaign against Australia in London on October 24.

Gold Coast Titans backrower Sam Tagatese, who played several games this year with the Ipswich Jets, has been chosen in Samoa’s squad for the Pacific Cup qualifying match with the Cook Islands in on October 17.

(Source: The Queensland Times, 07 October 2009)

Harrison selected for four nations Canberra Raiders forward Bronson Harrison has capped of a tremendous first year at the club, with selection for New Zealand in the upcoming four nations tournament.

Harrison has been an instrumental part of the Kiwi lineup since the start of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup where he was a part of the winning New Zealand team and has maintained his spot in the squad in the back row.

Since arriving in Canberra at the start of the 2009 season Harrison has become one of the clubs best players, playing every NRL match for the Raiders in his debut season in green and leading the NRL in most offloads.

Harrison said he’s looking forward to the upcoming tournament and said the Kiwi’s will be out to win the four nations just like they did the World Cup.

“It’s always an honour to represent your country and I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in this upcoming four nation’s tournament,” Harrison said. “No one expected us to win the World Cup either so we will be going over there to show we can back up that win with a win in this competition.”

The four nation’s tournament involves teams from Australia, New Zealand, England and France and kicks off on October 23 with Australia taking on New Zealand in London.

(Source: www.raiders.com.au 06 October 2009)

Challenges for Kearney in Four Nations Kiwis coach Steve Kearney still has some decisions to make after naming his squad for the Four Nations tournament

Unavailabilites have forced Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney to name seven debutants in his squad for the upcoming Four-Nations league tournament.

Close to a dozen first-choice players are injured, while Roosters centre Setaimata Sa was not considered after being charged with assault.

Kearney says Wests Tigers utility Dene Halatau pulled out of the tour for another reason. He says Halatau is getting married in the middle of the tour so he wanted to make himself unavailable.

Kearney named Bulldogs playmaker Ben Roberts as the player most unfortunate to miss out on the squad. Roberts has had his most consistent NRL season, helping guide the Bulldogs to within one game of the grand final.

Kearney says he has spoken to Roberts to tell him how close he was to being selected but in the end they could not squeeze another half into their squad. Another player left out was Warriors prop Russell Packer who Kearney believes needs to develop greater consistency if he wants to be selected for the national side. Packer has missed out to Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala, who has performed better week-in, week-out, and Kearney says he will touch base with Packer over the next week or so to tell him where he can improve.

Kearney is yet to make his mind-up as to who should fill the fullback jersey. Warriors rookie Kevin Locke is the only specialist fullback named in the squad, with veteran Brent Webb overlooked but Kearney says there is other competition for the number one jersey as he says Lance Hohaia has played great at fullback, while Jason Nightingale also performs in that position.

The Kiwis will assemble in Auckland tomorrow ahead of next week's one-off test against Tonga in Rotorua.

(Source: Radio Sport, 06 October 2009)

Fuifui Moimoi cleared to play for New Zealand THE game's rubbery international rules have cleared the way for Parramatta cult hero Fuifui Moimoi to return to the New Zealand squad for the Four Nations tournament.

Moimoi was named in a 23-man squad by the Kiwis yesterday - less than 12 months after taking the Rugby League International Federation to court in an attempt to change his allegiance to Tonga.

Although Moimoi and Tonga were successful, the barnstorming Eels prop didn't get the chance to play for the Pacific Island nation because his clearance was contingent on the rugby league minnows qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals. Tonga's early elimination at the World Cup has turned out to be a blessing for the Kiwis. As a result, Moimoi is free to play for New Zealand in the upcoming tournament against England, France and Australia without having to formally apply through the RLIF.

Despite Moimoi's selection drawing more attention to the haphazard criteria for international selection, Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr confirmed his organisation would not object to the Eels forward playing for the Kiwis.

"He played for New Zealand in 2007, but when the World Cup came around they didn't pick him," Carr said.

"He said he wanted to play for Tonga and he made an application which was the subject of court proceedings. They ruled he was eligible for Tonga but only if they made the finals. They didn't, so the last international team he played for was New Zealand.

"As a result he's cleared to play for New Zealand."

Outstanding in Parramatta's 23-16 grand final loss to Melbourne, Moimoi was joined in the New Zealand squad by seven debutants, including Manly rookies Kieran Foran and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin.

Moimoi's availability is a significant boost for coach Stephen Kearney. He has had a sensational season for the Eels and was unlucky not to win the in the grand final despite playing on a beaten side.

His savage hit on Melbourne prop Brett White early in the second half changed the momentum of the match. He then chimed in with a stunning solo try eight minutes from the end which put Parramatta within reach of forcing the game into extra time.

"I was keeping an eye on Fuifui last year and it was unfortunate he missed out," Kearney said.

"He's been the headline act this year so deserves his spot."

Kearney wasn't the only New Zealander delighted to have Moimoi on his side. Melbourne and New Zealand forwards Jeff Lima and Adam Blair couldn't hide their delight at the opportunity to play alongside Moimoi.

"It'll be good playing with him and not against him," Lima said.

"He'll be good for us." Blair said: "He takes some stopping but I thought we did a pretty good job for most of the game. He is a great player and when he gets that head of steam up he is one of the hardest players in the game to even slow down, let alone stop.

"A lot of it starts with Fui though. He is one of those guys who can lift his teammates."

Goodwin, the son of St George legend and former Kangaroo , has come from the clouds to gain a place in the New Zealand squad. His selection was made possible by his grandmother being a Maori.

It is believed to be the first involving a father-son combination playing for Australia and then the Kiwis.

(Source: Brent Read and Margie McDonald, The Australian, 06 October 2009)

Wiki to make comeback in benefit match for Samoan Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund Kiwi rugby league legend Ruben Wiki will spearhead a New Zealand Rugby League benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle today announced the former Kiwi captain is coming out of retirement to be a guest player for the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) against the Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mount Smart Stadium next Saturday.

Wiki (36) retired after turning out for the All Golds against New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth last October, ending a career which featured a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis and more than 300 NRL appearances.

“Ruben wanted to be involved in some way to help support our efforts to raise funds for the people of Samoa who suffered so terribly from the tsunami disaster this week,” said Doyle.

“He played for New Zealand with so much pride and commitment but he has always been passionate about his Samoan heritage. We couldn’t think of a better man to be involved in spearheading our relief effort.”

Doyle said Rugby League Samoa (RLS) was keen for the game to go ahead despite the tsunami disaster.

“This Samoan side is made up entirely of players resident in Samoa and, given what has happened this week, we told them we would understand if they decided not to go ahead with the match we had arranged some time ago,” he said.

“But the Samoans came back and told us it was important for them to play the match. They see this as helping them to connect with the Samoan community in New Zealand at this dreadful time.”

The NZRL is hosting the Toa Samoa Domestic team in Auckland from tomorrow, three days earlier than originally planned. This will provide more time for the visitors to mix with Auckland’s Samoan community.

Apart from the match between the Toa Samoa Domestic side and the Bartercard Premiership Selection there will now be a women’s sevens game on the programme between Fetu Samoa and an Auckland Invitational side led by Luisa Avaiiki, who captained the Kiwi Ferns to three World Cup titles.

Doyle said gate proceeds from the October 10 event along with other funds from a bucket collection would go to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.

Four days later the NZRL will be involved in another fund-raising appeal when it uses the one-off Test between the Kiwis and Tonga in Rotorua on October 14 to raise funds for victims of Tonga’s ferry disaster.

“This has been a sad time for our Pacific neighbours Samoa and Tonga. Both countries have a very strong association with our game and all we can do is try to help in whatever way we can,” said Doyle.

(Source: www.leagueunlimited.com 05 October 2009)

Leuluai named for NZ squad - Wigan half-back to represent Kiwis Thomas Leuluai is the only Super League player named in New Zealand's 23-man squad for the one-off Test against Tonga and the Four Nations series in England and France. The Wigan half-back, who featured in the Kiwis' 2008 World Cup-winning side, is included in the squad that features seven uncapped players, with Leeds full-back Brent Webb and Warrington back rower Louis Anderson not named.

The squad, captained by West Tigers stand-off Benji Marshall, has been heavily decimated by injury, with Roy Asotasi, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Zeb Taia, Taniela Tuiaki, Manu Vatuvei and Sika Manu all unavailable.

Also omitted was Sydney Roosters utility Setaimata Sa following an alleged alcohol-fuelled incident in Sydney which left him facing various charges including assault of a female police officer.

Back-rower Frank Pritchard, who was prevented from appearing in the World Cup and the 2009 Anzac Test against Australia due to injury, was among the players recalled, having last played for New Zealand in the Australian Rugby League's centenary Test last year.

Fuifui Moimoi returns from a two-year absence after his Kiwi debut in 2007 on the back of his impressive performances for beaten NRL grand finalists Parramatta.

Debuts Coach Stephen Kearney claimed to be looking towards the 2013 World Cup when selecting Kieran Foran, Bryson Goodwin, Kevin Locke, Ben Matulino, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Junior Sau and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for their New Zealand debuts.

"It's hugely exciting to be able to pick so many young players who have so much potential to play a big part in the Kiwis' future," said Kearney.

"They've all made a real impact in the NRL this year with all but one of them having had a taste of finals football either this season or last season.

"We don't have the benefit of tour matches these days so it's important we ensure we are always developing our future Test players."

New Zealand will move to Rotorua later this month to prepare for their upcoming Test against Tonga.

The Kiwis will then fly out to England ahead of their Four Nations opener against Australia at The Twickenham Stoop.

New Zealand: Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra), Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Canterbury), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers capt), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly).

(Source: www.skysports.com 05 October 2009)

Get To Mt Smart And Support Tsunami Victims This Saturday Mt Smart Stadium is getting in behind a benefit match being held by the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.

ARC Chairman Mike Lee says the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) will be waiving all charges for the use of the Council-owned stadium and urges Aucklanders to get along to the game between the Samoan Residents (Toa Samoa Domestic) and the Bartercard Premiership Selection at Mt Smart Stadium this Saturday (10 October).

Chairman of the ARC's Mt Smart Special Committee Michael Barnett says, "Following the tragic events in Samoa last week, we urge the people of Auckland to head to Mt Smart on Saturday and make this game something to cheer about."

The NZRL has announced the return of Kiwi rugby league and Warriors legend Ruben Wiki as a guest player in the Samoa Residents side. "The ARC had been looking at suitable ways in which to assist the Samoan government following the tsunami tragedy when we were approached by the game organisers.

"Cr Barnett and myself had no hesitation about throwing our weight behind this exciting event," says Mr Lee.

The Samoa side is made up entirely of players that live in Samoa. Hosted by the NZRL, the team is also being supported by the local Samoan community during their time in Auckland.

All gate proceeds from the game, along with funds from a bucket collection, will go to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.

Samoan Residents v Bartercard Premiership Selection

Saturday 10 October 2009, 2.00pm - 5.30pm Mt Smart Stadium Gates open at 2pm Curtain raiser is a 10mins each way women's 7s match - Fetu Samoa v Auckland Invitational kicking off at 2.30pm Main game starts at 3.30pm Tickets - gate sales only. Adults $5 and children 15 and under free.

(Source: www.voxy.co.nz 05 October 2009)

Seven newcomers in Kiwis squad Seven debutants have been named in the 23-man squad for the Kiwis' one-off Test against Tonga next week and the Four Nations in England and France.

Coach Stephen Kearney said the 2013 World Cup was a key factor in the selectors' decision to choose first-time Kiwis Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Kevin Locke (Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly).

"It's hugely exciting to be able to pick so many young players who have so much potential to play a big part in the Kiwis' future," said Kearney.

"They've all made a real impact in the NRL this year with all but one of them having had a taste of finals football either this season or last season.

"We don't have the benefit of tour matches these days so it's important we ensure we are always developing our future test players."

Foran, Locke and Waerea-Hargreaves made their NRL debuts this year, Matulino and Sau made theirs last year and Goodwin and Nuuausala first appeared at first-grade level in 2007.

Auckland-born Stand-off halfback Foran (19) scored six tries in nine NRL appearances for the Sea Eagles this year while 110kg Rotorua-born back rower Waerea-Hargreaves (20) was used six times at top level by Manly.

Locke (20) played 12 times on the wing by the Warriors while Auckland-born Sau (22) appeared in all 25 of Newcastle's games this year and has now played 37 NRL matches in all. Matulino has 33 NRL appearances across the past two seasons and Aucklander Nuuausala boosted his career tally to 38 by playing all 24 of the Roosters' games this year.

Winger Goodwin (23) is one of St George legend Ted Goodwin's three sons who have all played NRL football (Goodwin senior played for the Kangaroos in 1972-73).

Goodwin junior had played only nine NRL games previously but in his first season with the Bulldogs this year he was one of the competition's leading try-scorers with 20 tries in 24 games. Born in Australia, he qualifies for the Kiwis through his Maori grand mother and has also played for New Zealand Maori.

While a number of players were out of contention for the Four Nations tour through injury, Kearney said the Kiwis now benefited from much improved depth in player quality in all positions.

"We've had a number of players ruled out but we still have a squad of really good quality, one that's young but one that has plenty of ability," he said.

"The encouraging thing is that there were a lot of really capable players who have also missed out. We're confident with the group we have this time." Of the squad used in last year's successful World Cup campaign, 12 are in this Four Nations touring party while utility Iosia Soliola was an original World Cup selection.

Among the players recalled are second rower Frank Pritchard, who last played for the Kiwis in the Australian Rugby League's 2008 Centenary Test but missed the World Cup and this year's Anzac Test through injury.

Prop Fuifui Moimoi made his Kiwi debut in 2007 and returns after a two-year absence on the back of his compelling form for beaten NRL grand finalists the Parramatta Eels.

Grand final-winning Melbourne forwards Adam Blair and Jeff Lima are both in the squad as is centre Krisnan Inu from the beaten Parramatta side.

Blair and Lima both played in this year's Anzac Test but Inu didn't. Also back after missing the Anzac Test is Manly centre Steve Matai while Benji Marshall is again captain after leading the Kiwis once during the World Cup and again in the May international against the Kangaroos in May.

The Kiwis will be in camp for 10-days, starting in Auckland on Wednesday before moving to Rotorua on Saturday to prepare for their one-off Test against Tonga at Rotorua International Stadium on Wednesday, October 14.

They fly out for England on October 16 ahead of their opening Four Nations match against Australia at The Twickenham Stoop on October 24.

(Source: TV One Sport 05 October 2009)

Canterbury and Auckland dominate Bartercard Premiership Selection to play Toa Samoa Canterbury and Auckland provide 16 of the 18 players named today in the Bartercard Premiership Selection to play Toa Samoa Domestic at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland next Saturday.

The New Zealand Rugby League has confirmed the fixture has become a benefit match to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.

It has also announced former Kiwi captain Ruben Wiki will line up for the Toa Samoa Domestic side as a special guest player.

The Samoans will face a Bartercard Premiership Selection chosen from the six teams which contested this year’s provincial competition.

Canterbury’s 26-20 win against Auckland in today’s Bartercard Premiership grand final in Christchurch has resulted in it having seven players named in the squad, all of them in the starting line-up.

Auckland has six players named in the run-on combination with another three included on the bench. Wellington and Waikato provide the other two players.

Former Kiwi , who guided the Bulls to victory, is the coach.

Canterbury’s triumph in the grand final couldn’t have been much tighter.

After being 6-16 down at half-time, the Bulls climbed back into the contest to draw level at 20-20 with the match seemingly destined to head into extra time. But the home side broke the deadlock in the final seconds with a long-range try to win 26-20, claiming not only the Bartercard Premiership but also retaining the .

The result also prevented Auckland clean sweeping today’s three national championship grand finals after it had earlier won the two NJC finals at Cornwall Park in Auckland.

In the Foundation Cup (Under-16), Auckland edged Taranaki 11-10 while in the Kiwi Cup (Under-18) Auckland was 34-10 winner over Wellington.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

BARTERCARD PREMIERSHIP SELECTION v TOA SAMOA DOMESTIC

MOUNT SMART STADIUM, AUCKLAND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

BARTERCARD PREMIERSHIP SELECTION

1 JOHNNY ARANGA(Canterbury) 2 JUNIOR SALEVAO(Canterbury) 3 CRAIG SMITH(Canterbury) 4 GUENTHER SCHAUMKEL(Auckland) 5 JAMES BLACKWELL(Auckland) 6 WILLIAM HETA(Auckland) 7 KELVIN WRIGHT(Auckland) 8 VINCE WHARE(Canterbury) 9 NATHAN SHERLOCK(Canterbury) 10 FRED TURUWHENUA(Auckland) 11 CHRIS BAMFORD(Canterbury) 12 SIALII TUFEAO(Auckland) 13 JONNY LIMMER(Canterbury) Interchange: 14 DYLAN DAVIS(Auckland) 15 PATRICK MATULINO(Wellington) 16 SIONE TONGIA(Auckland) 17 (Auckland) 18 DARREN KINGI(Waikato)

COACH: BRENT STUART (CANTERBURY)

(Source: www.leagueunlimited.com 05 October 2009)

Canterbury survive scare to make Bartercard Premiership Final Top-ranked Canterbury is through to the 2009 Bartercard Premiership final but only after surviving a scare against Wellington in the competition's second semi-final on Sunday.

Unbeaten in the regular phase of the six-team provincial championship, the Bulls were pushed all the way before taking the lead and then holding Wellington out to win 20-17 at Rugby League Park in Christchurch.

The result took the Canterbury Bulls into next Sunday's grand final against Auckland, which eliminated Waikato with ease 60-4 in the first semi-final at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday.

Better still for the Bulls the decider - to be televised live by Sport - will be played in Christchurch, one of the rare occasions a national competition final has been staged outside Auckland.

A previous occasion was in 1993 when Canterbury enjoyed one of its most memorable days at Rug by League Park, trouncing a talent-laden Auckland line-up 36-12 to win the then first division championship final 36-12.

The four Bartercard Cup finals the Bulls played in - winning in 2000 and 2003 - were all played in Auckland as was last year's inaugural Bartercard Premiership final in which the Auckland side beat Canterbury 38-18.

But Sky Television made a commitment last week to cover the final in Christchurch should Canterbury win its semi-final.

While provincial supremacy will be at stake in next Sunday's final, so will the Rugby League Cup, which the Bulls, as holders, successfully defended against Wellington.

Details of the Bartercard Premiership semi-finals:

At Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Auckland 60 (Henry Heta 3, James Blackwell 2, Cody Walker 2, Sione Taka, Guenther Schaumkel, Suaia Matagi, Sala Fa'alogo, Chris Taumoepeau tries; William Heta 3 goals; Cody Walker 3 goals). Waikato 4 (Simon Beale). Halftime: 26-4 Auckland. Referee: Hayden Price.

At Rugby League Park, Christchurch Canterbury 20 (Junior Salevao, Jaye Pukepuke, Chris Bamford, Agaese Fiso tries; Simon Mounga 2 goals). Wellington 17 (Greig Dean, Bureta Faraimo, Pat Hunt tries; Greig Dean goal; Jamal Tamaiva goal; Anton Wereta field goal). Halftime: 10-6 Wellington. Referee: Leon Williamson.

(Source: www.rleague.com 28 September 2009)