Australia still favored
Kiwis confident of first series win since 1953
Posted: Monday October 05, 1998 11:51 AM
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BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- New Zealand rugby league coach Frank Endacott believes his players can overcome a long layoff to defy the odds with a series victory over Australia on Friday.
The majority of Endacott's team, seeking a first series win over the Kangaroos since 1953, play in the Australian competition for Auckland, which failed to make the finals and have been out of action for six weeks.
Australia has radically revamped its team since the loss in the first test in April, with nine of the title winning Brisbane Broncos side picked to play Friday.
Endacott has been boosted by the availability of English-based star Robbie Paul of Bradford.
"If they [Australia] are not on their game, they could find themselves two-nil down," Endacott said Monday. "All the pressure is on the Aussie boys but they've responded to that in the past."
Endacott said the Australians had not been strengthened by the personnel changes.
"We see this as a game we can win -- we beat a better team in April," Endacott said. "I'm not screaming underdog or favorite -- we just know we can beat them and that's what we'll be thinking when we run out."
The home team is quoted a 1-5 favorite to level the series in the first test under new coach Wayne Bennett with New Zealand a 3-1 underdog.
The third test is scheduled for Auckland on October 16.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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