Kiwis fighting World Cup 'fluke' factor

By STEVE MASCORD - NZPA

Kiwis utility Greg Eastwood has kicked off New Zealand's Four Nations campaign by warning the rugby league world will consider last year's World Cup triumph "a fluke" if they go backwards over the next month.

On the same day the video official who awarded New Zealand a penalty try in the RLWC08 decider - Steve Ganson - was appointed referee for Sunday morning's (NZ time) clash with Australia at the Stoop in London, Stephen Kearney was introduced to media in Leeds as the coach of the third-favourites for the current tournament.

New Zealand are without stars like Roy Asotasi, Taniela Tuiaki, Nathan Cayless, Manu Vatuvei, Setaimata Sa, Sam Rapira, Simon Mannering and others in their first tournament since lifting their first-ever World Cup 11 months ago.

But Leeds-bound Eastwood said: "We set a standard for ourselves, that we can be the best in the world so we just have to keep up that standard.

"We can't be disappointing this year because then people will consider it a fluke or something .

"We've just got to work at being at the top again."

It was Kearney who confirmed that Ganson, the fourth official in the World Cup final, will control Saturday's match.

"We're told it's Ganson," Kearney said. The St Helens official refereed Scotland's 104-0 European Nations Cup win over Italy in Padova on Saturday - a game in which one half ran two minutes short.

Bulldog Eastwood said the transition from two referees in the NRL to one in the Four Nations would slow the pace of play but should benefit New Zealand. "There could be a bit of a difference," he said.

"With two refs, they saw a bit more - with one, he tends to miss a few things. It can go back to how it used to be and one ref will be fine with us.

"It depends on who the ref is. With two refs, the game was definitely a lot quicker this year."

Kearney will announce his side tomorrow night (NZ time) but said only bench spots remained undecided.

"I will sit down with (selector) Tony Iro and have a chat about it," he said.

Asked at the Elland Road media conference how he felt about being ranked behind Australia and England by bookmakers, Kearney said: "We're happy with that. We don't care too much for how we're ranked. We're mindful of what's ahead."

While Brett Morris is favoured to grab a wing spot for Australia, coach Tim Sheens told reporters there was no risk that Billy Slater would not be fullback, forcing finals star Jarryd Hayne to the wing.

"At training Billy's been running at one and Jarryd went straight to the wing so I think Jarryd'd conceded," Sheens said.

Asked about the importance of Saturday's clash at the home ground of Harlequins RL before an anticipated big crowd of expats, Sheens said: "You lose your first game and you're behind the eight-ball playing England at Wigan so it's an important game for both of us.

"You don't want to be having to win every game to get through.

"We've lost key games to them on enough occasions to realise it's going to be a very, very tough game."