Respectful rivals pledge to get on with the job
The text messages have been flying between the Kiwis and Tongan rugby league players this week, but there’s not a sledge in sight, ahead of their much-awaited Rugby League World Cup match in Hamilton.
Instead of bitterness, animosity and grudge match, it’s more like respect, mateship and high-quality contest, that the teams seem to be focusing their preparations toward, despite all that’s gone on in the leadup.
Superstar Jason Taumalolo’s late defection, and then those who followed suit, left Tonga suitably in New Zealand’s sights. But having come to the third weekend of the tournament, the Kiwis are trying to distance themselves from any heightened emotions for the contest which will decide the pool B winner.
Veteran back-rower Simon Mannering, who returns to the fray after being rested for the 74-6 romp over Scotland in Christchurch last weekend, said none of the cross-country switches would be helping with motivation for the job they have to do tomorrow.
‘‘No, not at all. I think that’s where, probably, Kiwis teams in the past have got in trouble, when our emotions have got involved, when allegiances are split and what not between countries,’’ he said.
‘‘The players choosing teams ahead of others or whatever, that’s all in the past, we’ve all moved on as a group. I’m sure you guys are going to try and bring it up as often as you can leading up to this game, but we’ve got a job to do for New Zealand, and the Kiwis.’’
And, as if to be keeping enemies close, heading into tomorrow’s contest, the players haven’t been shying away from one another in opposing camps, with NRL teammates, and long-time friends still getting along just fine.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said he’s texted a few players, particularly Warriors team-mate Ata Hingano, who he said wished him luck, while Mannering said he caught up with his former long-time clubmate Manu Vatuvei on Wednesday.
‘‘It’s probably harder for people outside the game to understand that it is just a game, it’s not sworn enemies or whatever,’’ Mannering said. ‘‘You go out there and play, and you just try and do the best for your team.
‘‘And obviously it’s a physical game so there’s going to be physical encounters. There might be disagreements out there between friends, but whatever happens, at the end of the day you’re still friends and you’ll shake each other’s hand afterwards, and just carry on as we do.’’
The Kiwis have also made a point of not focusing too much on what Tonga will hit them with, but instead what they have to do to continue to improve a squad which has started pretty well, and which has seen Nelson AsofaSolomona and Danny Levi make their test debuts, and Brad Takairangi, Isaac Liu and Addin Fonua-Blake wear the black jersey for the first time.
‘‘You have a little look at them, and we’re pretty familiar with what they can do individually and as a group, and then the focus comes back to us, what we need to do better than previous weeks,’’ said Mannering.
‘‘It’s the environment you try and have with these campaigns and in Kiwis groups, where it doesn’t matter if you’re new to the group or been here a long time, you try and make everyone feel as comfortable as you can be, and have confidence in their own ability,’’ he said. ‘‘I know that was the case when I came through and we were told everyone’s equal here, so there’s no hierarchy.’’