Waite emphasises need for cool heads

Great Britain will be putting in extra work on drop goals before Saturday's third Test, following their failure to snatch victory via that route in the second. The team had four opportunities to land a decisive kick in the last three minutes at Huddersfield and their coach, David Waite, believes it could be just as close again when they face New Zealand at Wigan.

"It's something we work on, but we lacked a bit of composure on Saturday," he said. "It's safe to say that we'll be doing a bit extra this week, because it could easily boil down to a similar situation again."

Waite will have to wait for medical reports on two forwards, Terry O'Connor and Jamie Peacock, who took knocks to the head at the McAlpine Stadium, before he knows whether they will be available. There is still uncertainty about Adrian Morley, who missed the second Test with a flu virus. Waite said that the Sydney Roosters forward will go straight back into the side if he is fit, but Morley admitted to still feeling well below par.

There is better news from Paul Sculthorpe, who reported no reaction from his thigh muscle after getting through the whole game at Huddersfield.

Waite has encouraged Bradford's Mike Forshaw to reconsider his intention to retire from international rugby after the Wigan Test. Forshaw will be 33 by the next Test series, against Australia next autumn, but Waite said: "I think the players around him would be sorry if he wasn't there."

New Zealand's main doubt for the third Test is another Bradford player, Robbie Paul, who badly gashed his knee on Saturday. Paul was taken off on a stretcher, but the Kiwis are optimistic that he will be fit for Saturday.

The Great Britain hooker, Keiron Cunningham, could be out of action for as long as sixth months after discovering that he broke his elbow, not merely dislocated it, in the first Test. The St Helens hooker had has the elbow pinned and will miss Saints' World Club Challenge with Sydney Roosters on 14 February, the start of Super League and the Challenge Cup. His coach at St Helens, Ian Millward, said: "It is a dreadful blow for Keiron, St Helens and Great Britain."

The England A coach, John Kear, will not come home from his side's South Pacific tour today to find his job as assistant to Stuart Raper at Wigan under threat, according to the club's chairman, Maurice Lindsay. "There has been a management issue with John, but it has been blown out of proportion," said Lindsay. "It is a matter that has been put behind us and he will be with next year."

Melbourne Storm have signed the former Warrington centre David Kidwell for 2003. The 25-year-old New Zealand international was released by the Wolves last April for personal reasons and joined Sydney Roosters.

New South Wales have re-appointed their most successful ever State of Origin coach, Phil Gould, for the 2003 campaign.