Four Nations final preview: Captains and coaches on Anfield

With Liverpool at Southampton this weekend, their home stadium will play host to Rugby League as the Kangaroos and Kiwis do battle to be champions.

Excitement is building around the game and not least among the leaders of each side – read on for their thoughts on a unique chance to play at Anfield.

And if you fancy watching the final at the ground, click here for ticket details.

Mal Meninga – Australia head coach

It’s exciting. I’ll be sitting on the sidelines, unfortunately, but I would have loved to have played here. This is an iconic stadium and I know my players just want to get out onto that pitch on Sunday and play to their hearts’ content.

I remember coming to watch Liverpool at Anfield when I was living in St Helens and the noise was just huge. I remember players like Alan Kennedy, Bruce Grobbelaar and Craig Johnston, who I struck up a friendship with because of our Australian roots.

This will be a great contest between the teams that are number one and number two in the world in a fantastic stadium, and I can tell the Liverpool supporters they won’t be disappointed if they come along on Sunday.

David Kidwell – New Zealand head coach

Anfield is a really special place. We first came here for the press conference about four weeks ago and to get the chance to walk out here and see the stadium with the new Main Stand was really special. A friend of mine is a really big Liverpool fan and is a bit jealous because we have the chance to play here, but he might just jump on a plane and come over to watch it.

This is a place with a lot of history and it is a privilege and an honour to play the first test match between New Zealand and Australia at this stadium.

I’d say to the local fans to get down here on Sunday. This is a contact sport with the best players in the world representing their countries on show. We love the English fans and we love the way that you sing and chant and we want as many English fans supporting the Kiwis as possible!

Cameron Smith – Australia captain

I’m pumped the same as the rest of the squad because as soon as we found out we would be playing at Anfield, we were all pretty excited. I was lucky to come to Anfield a few weeks ago for the launch of the Four Nations and it’s impressive, particularly with the new Main Stand. I’ve [previously] only been able to see this on TV back in Australia, seeing the big crowds and the great atmosphere during the matches. Hopefully it will be the same on Sunday.

Liverpool is a great city. It’s the first time I’ve ever been here and it was nice to go down by the river and see a lot of the cafes. It’s a bit like Melbourne, actually, which is my home town.

Jesse Bromwich – New Zealand captain

It’s an absolute honour. This is why we play the game, to get the chance to play at fantastic stadiums like this. We are very lucky to get this chance and I’m looking forward to it. We had a walk around the pitch and it felt like carpet and we are really looking forward to it. Get yourself down and it will definitely be entertaining.