Four Nations Rolls Into Gear

ADVANTAGE KIWIS AND KANGAROOS AS FOUR NATIONS ROLLS INTO GEAR

Rotorua, New Zealand, October 24, 2010 – The Kiwis and the Kangaroos have claimed the early advantage after week one of the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

After the New Zealanders accounted for England 24-10 in Saturday night’s Centenary Test in Wellington, Australia today dismantled Papua New Guinea 42-0 in a sometimes-brutal contest at Parramatta Stadium.

The Kiwis arrived in Rotorua late today, their playing complement reduced to 22 with winger Manu Vatuvei heading back to Auckland. He was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after breaking his right arm last night.

The Kiwis’ next opponents are the Kumuls at Rotorua’s International Stadium next Saturday night (kicking off at the earlier time of 6.00pm), a match which will be preceded by the second Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos encounter; the Australians won the first game 24-16 in Wellington last night.

Next Sunday night the Kangaroos, battered by some bruising Papua New Guinea defence, will face a chastened England side at Melbourne’s AAMI Stadium.

While the Kiwis and the Kumuls were once familiar rivals playing each other in 15 Tests from 1978 through to 1996, they have met only once since when the New Zealanders prevailed 48-6 in Robina on their way to winning the World Cup in 2008.

Saturday’s encounter will the first between the two sides in New Zealand in 14 years, dating back to a two-Test series in 1996, the first of which was played in Rotorua when Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney was among the try-scorers in New Zealand’s 62-8 victory.

The Kiwis were in Rotorua a year ago when they were stretched by Tonga for a time before prevailing in a one-off Test preceding their 2009 Four Nations campaign.

While pleased to have a first-up win against England on Saturday night, Kearney made it clear after the match that the Kiwis would need to show significant improvement in a number of areas against Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand’s preparation for the Rotorua match will include an opposed training session against the New Zealand Residents on Wednesday. The session at the International Stadium, starting at 10.00am, will be open to the public.

The Four Nations match also means another homecoming for Rotorua-born Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who made his Test debut in his hometown against the Tongans last year and has since gone on to be part of the Sydney Roosters side beaten in this year’s NRL grand final by St George Illawarra. And reunited with his home province of Bay of Plenty is Whakatane-born and raised Kiwi captain Benji Marshall. Both players have plenty of strong family connections in the area.

Meanwhile, New Zealand rugby league’s ambassador Sir Peter Leitch is again getting behind the Kiwis by arranging a bus tour to take in the two matches at the International Stadium on Saturday. For just $100, fans get:

• A return bus trip to Rotorua by deluxe coach
• The best covered seat in the stadium
• Access to a lounge where they can mix and mingle and hear from two of the Kiwis not playing in the Test
• And the chance to see the Mad Butcher’s Rugby League Museum
Anyone interested in booking now should call Susan now on 09 526 8827.

2010 FOUR NATIONS

At Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta

Australia 42 (Willie Tonga 2, Billy Slater, Brent Tate, Cooper Cronk, Brett Morris, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer tries; Cameron Smith 5 conversions).
Papua New Guinea 0.
Halftime: 26-0 Australia.
Referee: Shane Rehm (New Zealand).
Crowd: 11,308.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME

October 16 England v New Zealand Maori Mount Smart Stadium
18-18 Auckland
Kiwis v Toa Samoa
50-6 Kiwis

October 23 Four Nations: Westpac Stadium
Kiwis v England Wellington
24-10 Kiwis
Curtain-raiser:
Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos
24-16 Junior Kangaroos

October 24 Four Nations: Parramatta Stadium
Australia v Papua New Guinea Sydney
42-0 Kangaroos
Curtain-raiser:
Toa Samoa v Tonga
22-6 Toa Samoa

October 30 Four Nations: International Stadium
Kiwis v Papua New Guinea Rotorua
Curtain-raiser:
Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos

October 31 Four Nations: AAMI Stadium
Australia v England Melbourne

November 6 Four Nations: Eden Park
England v Papua New Guinea Auckland
Kiwis v Australia

November 13 Four Nations Final Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane


ENDS

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