Gower ready for break
1 November 2004
Australia's Tri Nations rugby league siesta comes at the perfect time for five-eighth Craig Gower.
The Penrith captain has an assortment of ailments, most notably a dose of the flu and an ongoing case of osteo pubis - a nagging groin problem that requires rest.
"It's just a progressive thing for me," Gower said after playing a leading hand in Australia's last-gasp 12-8 win over Great Britain.
"I just have to see how it goes. We have had three tough games, we have had a long season and it will be good to get away, recharge ourselves and then put our heads back on footy next week.
"It's (Tri Nations) a great concept, it's just hard after a long season. It sort of feels like we haven't had a break."
There's a reason for that - he hasn't.
The inspirational Panthers half, like most of his Kangaroos teammates, has been going non-stop since the pre-season.
And there's another four weeks to go.
Bearing that in mind, coach Wayne Bennett has taken advantage of a break in the Kangaroos' schedule to give the players some time off.
Most are heading to Prague for some well-deserved R-and-R.
They'll leave for the Czech capital safe in the knowledge that a place in the Tri Nations final is already in their keeping thanks to Luke Rooney's 80th minute try at City of Manchester Stadium.
"I thought it was a bit scrappy on our part but at the end of the day we got away with it," Gower said.
"Thinking back on it there was a couple of things we could have done better than we did, our execution.
"There's no doubt they're improving, they have better players, they're hanging in there better, defensively they're a lot stronger.
"They're going to improve on it. We didn't play our best footy but we won and that's all we need to do."
Australia has next weekend off before playing a return match against Great Britain at JJB Stadium in Wigan in two weeks.
The Kangaroos then meet France in Toulouse the week before the Tri Nations final.
Captain Darren Lockyer expects to make his return from a rib injury in that game.
"Now that we won we're guaranteed a place in the final," Lockyer said.
"Although the next match against Great Britain is a Test match, I feel I'm better off aiming for France now - maybe play half a game there and make sure the rib gets through the game."
The final will be held at Elland Road in Leeds and most of the Kangaroos players expect to face Great Britain in the decider.
Their opponent will hinge on the outcome of the two clashes between the Lions and New Zealand.
"I think Great Britain will be there, especially playing at home," forward Petero Civoniceva said.
"I think they would have got a lot out of last night although it would have been disappointing to lose like that. Obviously they can see that they're pretty close to the mark."
Didnt know where to post this!!! Very interesting!
To me he seemed like he did a fair bit of work out there. 
