Tough test preferred by Morley as England prepare for Four Nations

England captain Adrian Morley is expecting a fierce battle from the Maoris in tomorrow's game at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium and predicts it will be just the preparation the tourists need ahead of the Four Nations.

In each of the two previous years, England warmed up for their autumn internationals by recording crushing wins over Wales, and Morley believes a strong Maori side will provide more fitting opposition.

Forwards Lewis Brown and Sam McKendry have been released by the Kiwis to join a New Zealand Maoris side which will be captained by former Leeds centre Clinton Toopi and includes dual Australian international Timana Tahu and the Super League trio of Rangi Chase, Weller Hauraki and Jeremy Smith.

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"There are three players from Super League and the rest of the boys are from the NRL," said Morley. "It is up there and close to an international side. I think it is stronger than Wales and France so it is going to be tough.

"This match is vital for our preparations. We feel that in tournaments gone by we have been a little underdone, especially in the first game, so this match is going to be just what we need. We want to go in with the best preparation possible – this will give us that."

The 24-man squad is now complete after Wigan prop Stuart Fielden arrived in Auckland four days late, after being given permission to stay behind in Halifax with his wife Sophie as she gave birth to their first child, Robbie Adam.

Hull KR reported a trading loss for 2009 of 298,000, a 30 per cent improvement on the previous 12 months when they lost 450,000.