Another tough battle for Reggae Warriors

Director of Rugby Romeo Monteith says if his Jamaican team gave the same effort and commitment today in their second Rugby League World Cup group game against tournament co-favourites New Zealand, as they did in their first against Ireland, they can further their growing reputation in the sport.

New Zealand are ranked number one and second favourites, behind holders Australia, to lift the trophy at Manchester United’s Old Trafford on November 19.

The Reggae Warriors are still looking for their first try in the competition following their 48-2 opening round defeat of Ireland on October 16 and now face by far the strongest nation they have met since making their international debut in 2009.

Monteith will not name his starting line-up until 75 minutes before kick-off (1.30 p.m. Jamaican time) in the East Yorkshire city of Hull and, while not underestimating the daunting task ahead, put the game into perspective by saying, “We might not be all full-time professionals like New Zealand and I can’t speak for each of the 24 players in the squad, but it’s just another game against 17 other blokes where you have to go out and give 100 per cent energy into every single tackle, every carry and every movement off of the ball.

“If they are doing that then I’ll be happy.”

New Zealand – World Champions in 2008 – won their opening game 34-12 against Lebanon last Sunday, but didn’t fully justify the ‘favourites’ tag given by many pundits so will want to put the picture straight against a Jamaican side boasting just two full-time professionals.

One of those, Ashton Golding, led by example in an exhausting 80-minute performance against the Irish which saw the captain register a mammoth 55 tackles, more than anyone else during the opening round of matches while, as hooker, being involved in the vast majority of play-the-balls when his side had possession.

“Ashton is a hard worker, on and off of the ball, so we are pleased to have someone leading the boys with that much energy,” added Monteith, who made just one change to his 19-man streamlined squad going into the game.

Only Ross Peltier misses out from the previous week and Monteith explained that, “He came into the tournament nursing a knee injury and that was the first game he has played in a long time.

“He definitely ‘bends the line’ in offence, but we have a 24-man quad and these are the 19 we have chosen for the New Zealand game.”

Included are three amateurs from the domestic game, Duhaney Park Red Shark’s trio Chevaughn Bailey, Andrew Simpson and Khamisi McKain.

Primary school physical education teacher Bailey made a sizeable contribution against Ireland, playing the entire game, and the 28-year old is likely to make the starting line-up again.

“I thought he had a decent game and defensively did a lot of work,” added Monteith. “He’s an athlete and so, although the competition and difference between the amateur and professional game are there to be seen, he has done what I want as a coach and put himself in the best physical and mental condition.”

Heavy rain during the week in England will surely leave the pitch much softer and more slippery than the island contingent are used to but, with the majority of the heritage players playing their rugby in the host country, that should not prove an additional problem.

JAMAICA (19-man preliminary squad): Ben Jones Bishop (Sheffield Eagles), Joel Farrell (Sheffield Eagles), Mo Agoro (Keighley Cougars), Greg Johnson (Batley Bulldogs), Jacob Ogden (York City Knights), Alex Young (Workington Town), James Woodburn-Hall (Halifax Panthers), Kieran Rush (Huddersfield Giants), Jordan Andrade (Unattached), Ashton Golding (Huddersfield Giants-captain), Michael Lawrence (Huddersfield Giants), AJ Wallace (Bradford Bulls), Chevaughn Bailey (Duhaney Park Red Sharks), Joe Brown (Workington Town). Substitutes: Aaron Jones-Bishop (Bradley Ho (Keighley Cougars), Keenan Tomlinson (Dewsbury Rams), Ross Peltier (Doncaster RLFC), Andrew Simpson (Dehaney Park Red Sharks), Khamasi McKain (Duhaney Park Red Sharks)