We'll not be caught on the hop this time

Steve McNamara's 24-man squad fly to Auckland on Friday ahead of an excursion they hope will culminate with a Four Nations final success in Brisbane in five weeks.

On the pitch, they will encounter successive challenges from New Zealand Maori, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea where their physical and mental condition will be examined just as forcefully as their footballing attributes.

But, while those nervous players only found out for certain on Monday that they were on the flight, for their leader, months of key preparation, analysis and consideration have already been undertaken, all of which he hopes will have laid unshakeable foundations for a long-awaited tournament triumph.

Since parting with Bradford in July, McNamara has been able to focus fully on the task of ensuring everything goes as perfectly as possible on his first major appointment as England chief and he is an avid believer that the key is in the detail.

On such thinking is the decision to face a Maori side – in Auckland a week on Saturday – before the Four Nations begins against New Zealand in Wellington on October 23.

McNamara, assistant to predecessor Tony Smith for the last three years, has garnered vital experience which suggests that warm-up is a pre-requisite to any chance of winning a first major title since 1972.

At the 2008 World Cup, scratchy England almost suffered defeat against unfancied Papua New Guinea in their opening game while France troubled them further in the first fixture of last year's Four Nations at Doncaster.

"We've entered competitions in the last two years and not really performed in our first game," said McNamara. "We were probably a little fortunate to end up on the right side of the scoreboard and want to iron out those issues.

"That's what we've learned from those experiences; we can't afford to start like we did against Papua New Guinea, and jump straight into a Test match with New Zealand.

"We need this match with the Maori and most players will get some game time. New Zealand played Tonga last year before they came to England and they face Samoa directly after our match so we'll see them live.

"The Australians tend not to warm up. They think they can just go straight in and that's their way of doing it; if they lose the first they just think 'we'll win the next two'. That's generally their attitude."

Attitude was another essential ingredient considered when McNamara was contemplating the make-up of his squad. A player's on-field skills are not the only subject under inspection. He has had to question who has the right mentality to cope with what could be, at times, a strained and trying tour.

Who is likely to suffer from a bout of home-sickness, who is prone to upset the mood if left unselected – as seven players will be each week – who might lead others astray when minds need to be concentrated on the 80 minutes' play ahead?

McNamara said: "The over-riding thought is of making sure the chemistry of the group is right. The environment's right and the players coming into this are good players and good people as well. Hopefully, we've got that balance right.

"This should be the best five weeks of their life. We're going there to enjoy ourselves and, hopefully, be successful."

The spirit of rookie Luke Robinson, who showed his commitment by postponing his wedding, is the kind of character trait McNamara has sought while the jovial scrum-half's enthusiasm is also infectious.

"Anyone who has dared say what he just has to his father-in-law shows he can give someone a kick up the backside and that's the sort of toughness we'll need out there," he said.

McNamara has spent time in Australia watching the NRL and seeing some of the players his side will be encountering and Sydney Roosters chief Brian Smith will link up with them in New Zealand.

The veteran coach, formerly of Hull and Bradford, has mentored McNamara throughout his career but suffered another NRL Grand Final defeat at the weekend.

"What we might need to do with Brian is sit him in the corner of a pub with (St Helens duo) James Roby and James Graham," said McNamara.

"They can talk about losing four Grand Finals and when they've sorted it out they can come out and be happy again.

"Seriously, though, he has been a great help already and will play a big part for us."

The Kiwis have included two debutants – New Zealand Warriors back-row Lewis Brown and Brisbane Broncos winger Antonio Winterstein – in their squad.

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