Smith breaks down after Kiwis’ victory

Smith was reduced to tears when he hugged family after the game — his wrist spelling out RAMS, which was a tribute to his boyhood club. “The RAMS is my life really and I started playing for them when I was three,” Smith explained.“To look at it on my wrist when I am out there playing, I just try to be an inspiration to the little kids to let them know it is possible. “I just try to inspire them everyday and that is why I play rugby league really for my family and all the kids that I grew up with.” Smith was given a chance by Kiwis’ coach Michael Maguire and he more than warranted the faith shown in him to fill in for the injured Issac Luke. “New Zealand is where I’m from and that’s my culture and my family,” Smith said.

“I could never not put on the black and white. It means everything to me and to put on a show for my family and friends that’s what dreams are made of, so I’m very grateful.” Smith is expected to spend one more season behind Cameron Smith at club level, but with performances like this he has a long career as a starter for both club and country ahead of him. “I still can’t believe it. I think it’s a dream,” Smith said. “Madge is really pointing us in the right direction. We always knew we had the skill, but Madge has given us the belief that we can do it.“It’s been an unreal experience and I just can’t wait to play the next game.”

DWZ sizzles as Kangaroos fizzle in Kiwis’ boilover

KIWIS fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak produced a brilliant debut as New Zealand skipper to lead his side to a thrilling 26-24 victory over the Kangaroos. The New Zealand captain was everywhere for the hosts, matching Kangaroos’ fullback James Tedesco in a brilliant battle between the two. Latrell Mitchell and clubmate Joseph Manu produced a mesmerising
match up, with the Kiwis debutant getting the better of a fascinating duel. Set up first try with a through the legs miracle ball. Was denied a brilliant try near halftime. Ran for 139 metres and looked dangerous all night.

Kiwis out to restore New Zealand's faith

Eighteen months after Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor's illicit substance scandal threatened to kill off their Kiwis careers, Michael Maguire has highlighted them as representative of the side's rebuild. At a time when New Zealand were being pegged as vulnerable and in danger of being usurped by Tonga, they produced a rousing 26-24 rugby league Test victory over Australia on Saturday. After a raft of representative retirements and missing the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Issac Luke, the lightly-fancied Kiwis rolled the world champions for the first time in three years.

The Kiwis brand copped a black eye after Bromwich was stripped of the captaincy and he and Proctor were banished from the World Cup after being caught on CCTV snorting a substance off a drug dealer's phone after last year's Anzac Test. Saturday's game was their first back in Kiwis colours and coach Maguire said their ability to come back from a low point in their careers was representative of the character he wanted in his team. "People like Kevin Proctor and Jesse Bromwich, they've faced adversity and what we saw, to come back in form the way they did," Maguire said. "A lot of young kids, unfortunately, at some stage make a mistake and those two boys have definitely put their hands up and turned a bit of adversity into strength and where we want to be. "Both of those boys performed very well." Next Saturday's Test between Tonga and Australia at Mount Smart is already sold out, prompting fears the Mate Ma'a were winning the battles for the hearts and minds of the public in New Zealand.

Kangaroos' new era marred by shock NZ loss

A Joey Manu-inspired New Zealand brought Australia crashing back to earth as the Kangaroos' new era began with a 26-24 upset loss. The Kangaroos had their 13-game winning streak broken on Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium and tasted their first rugby league Test loss under coach Mal Meninga. After the retirement of a golden generation of players
including Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith, the Aussies have shown they are beatable.Manu upstaged his Sydney Roosters teammate, superstar Latrell Mitchell, scoring one try and setting up another in a rampaging performance, while Shaun Johnson was named man of the match.Meninga said he would resist the temptation to ring in changes, saying their 11 errors and completion rate cost them and there wasn't much wrong with the side.

Joseph Manu shines on debut for NZ Kiwis

JOSEPH Manu has continued his stellar NRL form into the international arena, starring for New Zealand on debut in his team’s shock win over Australia. The Sydney Roosters centre was electric for the Kiwis on the right edge, with his last-ditch offload for Jordan Rapana’s try in the 69th minute proving the matchwinner for the home side at Mt Smart Stadium.

To go with his try assist, Manu bagged a four-pointer of his own, with his match-up against Tricolours teammate Latrell Mitchell one of the best positional battles in the game. Man of the match Shaun Johnson was left in awe. “Honestly, I didn’t know how deadly he was,” Johnson said. “If you give him the ball in a half opportunity, he’ll make something of it. “The try he set up for ‘Raps’ in the corner was freakish. He carried Latrell Mitchell over the line. “He’s only so young, he’s so young and it was an awesome experience playing with him tonight.”

The Kiwis win a thriller over the Kangaroos

A JOEY Manu-inspired New Zealand have brought Australia crashing back to earth with a 26-24 upset in their rugby league Test at Mt Smart Stadium. The Kangaroos had their 13-game winning streak broken on Saturday and tasted their first Test loss under coach Mal Meninga. After the retirement of a golden generation of players including Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith, the Aussies are facing a rebuild. Manu upstaged his Sydney Roosters teammate, superstar Latrell Mitchell, scoring one try and setting up another in a rampaging performance, while Shaun Johnson was named man of the match.

The Kiwi forwards, led by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jesse Bromwich and Martin Taupau, dominated while David Klemmer was the only Aussie forward to make more than 100 metres. The Australians scored two late tries through Felise Kaufusi and James Tedesco for a tense final two minutes however the scoreline belied the Kiwis’ dominance. The result will go a long way to restoring the New Zealand public’s faith in the Kiwis after a slew of poor results and off-field issues. It was the New Zealanders’ first win over Australia since the 2015 Anzac Test. After the Kangaroos took a 12-8 lead into halftime despite the Kiwis controlling possession and territory, the home side hit the front when hooker Brandon Smith burrowed over in the 54th minute.

Holmes declares Mitchell the new Inglis for Kangaroos

WHO needs Greg Inglis when you have Latrell Mitchell? Mitchell’s Australian backline partner Valentine Holmes has paid the Sydney Roosters’ NRL sensation the ultimate compliment, comparing him to the Queensland skipper. Inglis was set to captain the national side for the first time in Tests against New Zealand and Tonga, however was stood down after being charged with drink- driving.

Inglis’ absence compounds the experience drain being felt by Mal Meninga’s side after the representative retirements of Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. But Holmes said Mitchell shared the same superstar qualities as Inglis, having achieved almost everything in the game this year with a Roosters premiership, a NSW Origin win and his Test debut. “He’s upbeat and I love that about him,” Holmes said. “He’s very confident. That’s why he’s been the best centre in the game, I think. “I’m very happy for him to make his debut at such a young age. I’m sure he’ll do well. Playing outside him, I feel like I’m playing outside Inglis again.”Mitchell and Holmes will form a formidable left-side combination which oozes size, class, speed and power.

Kiwis treat Aussies to trio of fiery hakas

THE three Australian teams in Saturday’s tripleheader against New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium have been treated to a trio of fierce, spine-tingling hakas.
 
It started with the Junior Kiwis pouring plenty of emotion into their haka, before the Kiwi Ferns took centre stage, then the Kiwi men.

Adam Blair will be the most experienced Test player on the field on Saturday night

The most experienced players in the Kangaroos’ squad are skipper Boyd Cordner (16) and props David Klemmer and Aaron Woods having played 15 Tests each. The Kiwis also have the edge in debutants, with Joseph Manu and Jahrome Hughes the only squad members not to play a Test.

The Kangaroos have five players in line to debut in James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Luke Keary, Damien Cook and Tyrone Peachey. Whatever the final make-up of the sides, the Kiwis are set to have an overwhelming advantage in experience and it might just be the catalyst for a shock upset against the World Champions. Scroll down for our full Fox Lab Kiwis v Kangaroos preview

Tonga Test set to smash poor ticket sales for Kiwis and Kangaroos clash

AN embarrassing outcome at the turnstiles looms for New Zealand, prompting coach Michael Maguire to urge Kiwi rugby league fans to support their home team.Two days out from the trans-Tasman Test in Auckland, the New Zealand Rugby League is anticipating a crowd of about 15,000 at Mt Smart Stadium.The hastily arranged Test between the Kangaroos and Tonga a week later is expected to be sold out at the same venue, which can hold just under 26,000 fans.Venue officials haven’t responded to AAP’s request for official sale figures but
NZRL chief executive Greg Peters admitted the Kiwis Test was likely to attract a considerably smaller crowd, despite it being part of a trans-Tasman triple- header involving women’s and junior internationals.“We’re hoping to get a crowd of around 15,000 at the end of the day but if we get three wins on the weekend people will say ‘I wish I was there watching that,” Peters told Radio Sport.“I don’t think it has quite sold out the following week.”Boosted by New Zealand and Australian NRL stars, Mate Ma’a Tonga provided the fairytale story of last year’s World Cup, attracting massive crowds on their way to a semi-final loss to England.

Head to Head Australia vs New Zealand

— Played 135, Australia 100, New Zealand 32, Drawn 3.

— Australia has won its past five and 13 of its past 16 matches against New Zealand with the only losses coming in three consecutive matches, with the Kiwis winning the two Four Nations matches in 2014 (including the final) and the 2015 mid-year Test.

— In 12 of their past 13 wins against the Kiwis, the Kangaroos have conceded 12 points or

less, the only exception coming in their 30-18 win in the 2014 mid-year Test.

— In their current five match winning streak the Kangaroos have outscored the Kiwis 120-34.

— With these two teams not meeting at the World Cup last year, their last match against each other came in May 2017. This is the longest period of time the Kangaroos and Kiwis haven’t played in a Test match since they didn’t play each other in both the 1996 and 1997 seasons due to the Super League battle.