GB win Tri-Nations warm-up

Great Britain made a promising start to their Tri-Nations rugby league campaign, cruising to a 40-6 win over a Newcastle select side Down Under.

The Lions had too much class for their hosts and ran in seven tries in a solid performance ahead of their opening Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand on October 28.

The Great Britain line-up did not feature any players from Super League champions St Helens or Grand Final losers Hull, who arrived in Australia on Wednesday.

Bradford Bulls hooker Terry Newton was not selected, while the game enabled Sydney Roosters hard man Adrian Morley to clear his suspension.

It was a fiery encounter in which Lions captain Jamie Peacock and Paul Wood were sin-binned, along with two Newcastle players.

The visitors scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, with Leeds Rhinos' Danny McGuire slicing through Newcastle's defence to score out wide before Wigan Warriors second-rower Gareth Hock strolled over from close range.

Huddersfield winger Martin Aspinwall then completed a slick backline move to cross in the left corner, and Lee Briers kicked his third conversion to put the Lions 18-0 ahead.

Newcastle capitalised on some sloppy ball control from the Lions midway through the half to score their only try of the match through Ji Hill, with Dane Queenan converting.

Leeds Rhinos' Rob Burrow came off the bench and added a fourth try before half-time, ducking past two defenders to take his side into the break leading 24-6.

Salford winger David Hodgson came on for Newcastle Knights' Brian Carney after the break and had an immediate impact, diving over in the right corner twice in six minutes. McGuire then claimed his second try, stepping his way through a gap in the Newcastle defence to score between the posts.