21 Oct 2009

Aussies want to avoid another loss to Kiwis

6:17 am on 21 October 2009

Australia's rugby league team will be looking to avoid a sense of deja vu when they meet New Zealand in their opening Four Nations match.

England's Steve Ganson, Super League's leading referee, will be in charge of the clash at London's Twickenham Stoop on Sunday morning.

The Kiwis upset Australia 34-20 to win last year's World Cup after Ganson, who was the video referee, awarded the visitors a penalty try with 10 minutes remaining in the final at Suncorp Stadium.

Kangaroos centre Justin Hodges missed the World Cup final through injury but says while the pain of that defeat remained with the Australian squad, they were looking ahead.

Hodges was man of the match in Australia's 28-point revenge rout of the Kiwis in May.