Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has resisted the urge to select Greg Inglis for Saturday morning's (AEDT) Four Nations opener against New Zealand in Warrington.
The Queensland and South Sydney star was named on an extended interchange bench by Sheens on Wednesday, but only the 17 players who featured in the recent 42-6 win over the Kiwis took part in Thursday's captain's run at Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Inglis trained with the Emus squad instead and, although the Kangaroos' coaching team felt he would get through the game, they plan to unleash him against England at Wembley next Saturday.
Utility Cooper Cronk likened the conditions in Warrington to Melbourne after the team's final hit-out, with light rain and leaden skies greeting the team on their arrival at the stadium.
The 13,000-thousand capacity ground is expected to be at least three-quarters full with hospitality boxes sold out, and Cooper expects the conditions to dictate how the game unfolds.
"The ball was pretty slippery out there, and that may change the way we and the Kiwis play," Cronk said.
"It might be quite a physical contest in the forwards."
The Kangaroos players were given a rock star reception from a hundred or so excited schoolboys in the stands when they completed training, and Cronk said the small surroundings would not concern the tourists.
"The atmosphere here will be like some of the suburban grounds in Sydney. You will be up closer and personal to the action and it will be full of noise," he said.
The Queensland playmaker also said the playing surface will take some getting used to, and heighten the importance of a precise kicking game.
"The ball rolls off at the end, so it is going to be hard for it to stay in play," he said.
"But that is what Test footy is all about and all the skills that need to be displayed.
"We will need to wear long studs I think, and the pitch reminds me of Olympic Park where it gets a bit slippery so the outside backs may have their hands full."
AAP
Tags: rugby-league, nrl, sport, australia, new-zealand First posted October 28, 2011 06:51:25
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