Jesse Bromwich blasts 'disrespectful' World Cup act before Aussie clash
New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich has let rip at World Cup officials after reports suggested Michael Maguire's team had been informed their ticket home had been booked after the Kangaroos clash.
The Kangaroos have waltzed their way into the last four with ease but the game with the Kiwis at Elland Road on Friday (Saturday AEDT) represents their first challenge of the tournament.
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Nathan Cleary is set to lead the Australian's into the clash with Daly Cherry-Evans dropped from the bench.
Coach Mal Meninga's forward-heavy bench means Australia are ready to fight fire with fire against a bolstering New Zealand pack.
However, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report, World Cup officials predicted when teams would be knocked out of the tournament and booked tickets home.
These tickets were put on hold and will cost $350 each ticket to change.
And officials reportedly believe New Zealand will be going home after their clash against Australia in the semi-final.
And New Zealand captain Bromwich claimed the team "found it disrespectful".
“It’s not on... We spoke about that as a group, and we want to control what we can control," he said to reporters.
"Outside noise shouldn’t be affecting us at this time of the tournament. Our preparations should be the main thing on our mind for Friday night at this moment.
“So we’ve put that one to bed."
While Bromwich wasn't happy about the reports that found their way into the New Zealand dressing room, he did say it was a good motivator for the training session.
“I think we pretty much used it for a good training session today," the captain added.
New Zealand great blasts World Cup officials
New Zealand great Tony Kemp agreed with Bromwich and said his nation had always been disrespected at World Cups.
“Obviously, it (New Zealand’s most disrespected team) is the Kiwis currently with that news that came out yesterday,” Kemp said on SENZ Breakfast.
“They put them in terrible hotels, they always have done.
“They give them the worst fields to train on and the English and Australians have treated them like that for years.
“Was I surprised when I read that? Not at all."
In another hit to New Zealand, the World No.1 side will be without intimidating prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for their World Cup semi-final against Australia.
The Sydney Roosters forward has only played one game at this tournament, suspensions forcing him to sit out their opening two group fixtures and their quarter-final win over Fiji.
Waerea-Hargreaves has also been struggling with a hamstring injury and won't feature against the Kangaroos at Elland Road on Friday (Saturday AEDT).
with AAP
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