Wolves centre Gleeson gunning to put Aussie hoodoo to bed (From Warrington Guardian)

Wolves centre Gleeson gunning to put Aussie hoodoo to bed

'IT is time to break the Aussie hoodoo' is Martin Gleeson's battle cry on the eve of Great Britain's bid to secure early qualification for the Tri-Nations final.

Victory over Australia at the JJB Stadium on Saturday will rubber stamp Great Britain's place in the competition's climax on November 27 and take the pressure off next weekend's game against New Zealand.

But the Aussies have a frighteningly good record against Great Britain and Wolves centre Gleeson believes that the Kangaroos' psychological edge is the only thing standing in the way of a GB Tri-Nations triumph.

Great Britain's dominant second half display in their 22-12 victory over Logan Swann and his Kiwi teammates on Saturday has strengthened Gleeson's view that Brian Noble's troops can win the inaugural competition.

But he accepts that it is the Aussies who provide the litmus test and he is desperate to help put the hex to bed in front of a sell out crowd on Saturday, kick-off 6.15pm.

Gleeson, who has been nursing two black eyes this week after breaking his nose in a solid individual performance against the Kiwis on Saturday, said: "There is no doubt in my mind that we are as good as if not better than New Zealand and Australia.

"We had an awesome result on Saturday and there is still a lot of improvement left in us.

"But we need to come out with all guns blazing on Saturday and finally get one over on the Aussies.

"If we beat them on Saturday then it will give us a huge boost before we met them again in the final.

"But there is no way that they are going to throw the game. They may already be in the final but they don't like to lose to us no matter what the game is.

"Just look at last year's Test series. They had already wrapped up the series after winning the first two games but they still went on to win the third one.

"They seem to have a psychological hold on us and I'd be delighted if we finally overcome that on Saturday.

"I may have broken my nose but I'm feeling fit and healthy and am really looking forward to playing against Australia again."

Meanwhile, Wolves winger Henri Fa'afili has been selected out of position at stand off for New Zealand's Test match against France in Carcassonne tonight, Thursday.

He was a late call up for New Zealand's end of season international programme after Bradford Bulls man mountain Lesley Vainikolo was booked in for a knee operation.