Carney hoping to redeem himself

The Great Britain vice-captain had a dreadful time in the 42-26 defeat to New Zealand last Saturday, making a string of errors before being substituted.

"If you're not injured and the hook comes out for you, you know you've had a bad one," he said as the squad reassembled yesterday.

"But Brian Noble knows what I'm about and that I've got the mental capacity to improve on that performance. You have the opportunity in this sport to put things right the next week."

Noble, the Great Britain coach, is likely to tell the players today who will be in the team to face Australia at Wigan, but he shrugged off the chance to publicly reassure Carney that his place was safe.

"You have to look at form," he said. Noble has the option of switching Leon Pryce to the right and bringing in Gareth Raynor on the left wing, although that would be harsh on Carney after his first bad Test.

Iestyn Harris is likely to come into the reckoning, although his partner has still to give birth to the couple's child.

The Kiwis' Wakefield forward, David Solomona, is to face a specially convened disciplinary panel today, charged with a dangerous throw on Stuart Fielden during the Loftus Road Test.

New Zealand have called up four British-based players for the second-tier international against England at Warrington this Sunday.

Bradford's Joe Vagana, Willie Poching, of Leeds, and Warrington's Henry Fa'afili have been brought into the squad, along with Henry Paul, Huddersfield's new signing.

All but Poching have played for New Zealand before. Although no caps will be awarded for the match, the four have a chance to push their claims for Tri-Nations call-ups.