Sat May 8, 2010
Disappointment was the overriding feeling in the New Zealand camp after a late comeback failed to produce victory in a tight Anzac Test battle with the Kangaroos at Melbourne's new AAMI Park on Friday night.
Given the history of equivalent contests in recent years - like the 10-38 defeat in Brisbane last year - a four-point defeat might have been regarded as a positive outcome but coach Stephen Kearney and captain Benji Marshall would have none of it.
While they were both full of admiration for the 80-minute effort the Kiwis produced, they said the performance wasn't good enough. It might have seemed a harsh assessment but it was also a reflection of the standards the Kiwis have set themselves in recent years.
Such was also the case when the New Zealanders last met the Kangaroos in the Four Nations in London last year, a match the Kiwis appeared to have won until the Australians escaped with a 20-20 draw following a late converted try.
As was the case last October, the Kiwis again fielded a line-up missing several players regarded in the first-choice category such as Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith, Roy Asotasi, Frank Pritchard, Fuifui Moimoi and more.
Kearney, though, didn't buy into any discussion about players who had been ruled out. He steadfastly maintained the Kiwis were able to call on a talented group of players despite their collective lack of experience.
The faith proved to be justified throughout this 2010 Anzac Test, notably for all but the last few minutes of the first half as the Kiwis sustained a high-quality defensive effort which had limited Australia to just a penalty goal in the opening 38 minutes. But, with halftime in view, the Kiwis failed to cover a Darren Locker second tackle grubber kick, giving left winger Brett Morris an open invitation to race in behind the New Zealand side's defensive line to collect the ball for a try wide out. It was an unwanted lapse enabling Australia to go to the break with a 6-0 lead, an advantage they doubled through a second Morris try - this time converted - only eight minutes into the second half.
Thereafter the Kiwis settled into the grind of a classic arm wrestle, repelling the Australians with unrelenting defence and also making ground in possession by going at the Kangaroos through the middle of the park.
While it took time to taste success it finally came, the Kiwis shifting the ball left nicely with a long pass from Lance Hohaia giving comeback winger Jason Nightingale a clear run to the corner for a try. It was a nice reward for the busy Nightingale who was part of the Kiwi squad for last year's Four Nations campaign but never made it onto the field.
Then 10 minutes later powerful centre Junior Sa'u surged onto a drop-off from the impressive Sika Manu to score in the 78th minute to leave Australia leading just 12-8 (Issac Luke having missed conversion attempts of both tries).
There was time enough for just one more set from the restart, the Kiwis doing all they could to shift Australia around before they moved the ball to Sam Perrett on the right. He had a slim shot at creating something but it all came to nothing after he stepped on the touchline.
So the Kiwis, after winning the World Cup final in 2008, have since had a 10-38 loss to the Kangaroos followed by the 20-20 draw in London and now this 8-12 defeat. But while it ranks as one of the Kiwis' narrowest losses to Australia in the modern era it was no consolation for them.
For all the disappointment inside the camp, the display reinforced the view that the Kiwis' playing depth has improved substantially with Zeb Taia and Aaron Heremaia both making their mark in their first taste of Test football. Taia finished the match with a game-high 21 runs, making 138 metres. Winger Sam Perrett was right behind him with 20 carries and 127 minutes, including an astonishing 12 dummy half runs.
In challenging, soggy conditions at the new AAMI Park, the Kiwis' ball control was exceptional as they completed 34 of their 42 sets. They also had a number of heavy defensive workers with hooker Issac Luke making 40 tackles, Adam Blair 37, Sam Rapira 36 and Bronson Harrison 29.
With the defeat, Australia retained the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy. The next time the two fierce Trans-Tasman rivals meet will be in early November when they feature in the Four Nations double header at Eden Park in Auckland.
Match details:
At AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kiwis 8 (Jason Nightingale, Junior Sa'u tries).
Kangaroos 12 (Brett Morris 2 tries; Jamie Lyon conversion, penalty).
Halftime: 6-0 Australia.
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England).
Crowd: 29,422.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE
Tue May 4, 2010
Source: Weekend NRL Teams & InfoAll the teams and information is now through for Round 9 of the 2010 Telstra Premiership with the Represenative teams listed as well.
If you haven't been able to locate the link on the front page for the 'Teams and Predictions' for NRL Round 9, please follow the link below.
It has all the teams, referee appointments, predictions and the most comprehensive statistical information.
Round 9 Teams, STATS and PredictionsAUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
Fri May 7, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 8:00pm (AEST), 10:00am (NZ)
Australia: 1. Billy Slater (Melbourne), 2. Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), 3. Greg Inglis (Melbourne), 4. Jamie Lyon (Manly), 5. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), 6. Darren Lockyer [c] (Brisbane), 7. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), 8. Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), 9. Cameron Smith (Melbourne), 10. David Shillington (Canberra), 11. Luke Lewis (Penrith), 12. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), 13. Paul Gallen (Cronulla). Subs: 14. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), 15. Josh Perry (Manly), 16. Anthony Watmough (Manly), 17. Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra). 18th Man: Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters).
New Zealand (Squad): Adam Blair (Melbourne), Kieran Foran (Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Aaron Heremaia (New Zealand), Lance Hohaia (New Zealand), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall [c] (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (New Zealand), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Sam Rapira (New Zealand), Junior Sa'u (Newcastle), Zeb Taia (Newcastle), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters).
COUNTRY v CITY
Fri May 7, Regional Sports Stadium, Port Macquarie, 7:30pm
Country: 1. Josh Dugan (Canberra), 2. Michael Robertson (Manly), 3. Jamal Idris (Canterbury), 4. Timana Tahu (Parramatta), 5. Luke Burt (Parramatta), 6. Greg Bird (Gold Coast), 7. Brett Kimmorley [c] (Canterbury), 8. Kade Snowden (Cronulla), 9. Michael Ennis (Canterbury), 10. Brett White (Melbourne), 11. Ben Creagh (St George Illawarra), 12. Glenn Stewart (Manly), 13. Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast). Subs: 14. Todd Carney (Sydney Roosters), 15. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra), 16. Willie Mason (North Queensland), 17. Dean Young (St George Illawarra). 18th Man: 18. Joel Thompson (Canberra).
City: 1. Lachlan Coote (Penrith), 2. Anthony Minichiello (Sydney Roosters), 3. Beau Champion (South Sydney), 4. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers), 5. Michael Jennings (Penrith), 14. Kris Keating (Parramatta), 7. Trent Hodkinson (Manly), 8. Bryce Gibbs (Wests Tigers), 9. Robbie Farah [c] (Wests Tigers), 10. Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers), 11. Trent Waterhouse (Penrith), 12. Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast), 13. Luke O'Donnell (North Queensland). Subs: 15. Tim Mannah (Parramatta), 16. Tim Grant (Penrith), 17. Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne), 18. Joel Reddy (Parramatta). 18th Man: 19. Liam Fulton (Wests Tigers).
Round 9 Teams, STATS and PredictionsClick Here to have a bet on the NRL, NYC or Super LeagueClick Here to play Rleague.com Fantasy NRL
Anzac Test Match
Australia 12 d. New Zealand 8
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