NEWS » mpetition.Weakness: Only the Titans ha

New Zealand coach David Kidwell is adamant his team are on an upward curve despite losing 14-8 to Australia in their second Four Nations rugby league Test in Coventry.Both sides scored two tries and New Zealand - who were outplayed for much of the first half - came close to a third in the dying moments through halfback Shaun Johnson which could have forced a draw.Kidwell says the performance was better overall than the opening 17-16 win over England and certainly superior to the 26-6 loss to the Kangaroos in Perth a month ago.However, he says they are capable of better.I think were definitely building and improving, he said.We improved from Perth to the England Test. I think we improved again but its about taking your opportunities.At times we didnt do that but towards the end there we started playing some football that we know we can play.Kidwell said some of New Zealands first-up contact wasnt strong enough, letting Australia rumble out of their half too easily early in the game.Some of their ruck defence was also loose but Kidwell praised their ability to scramble when the Kangaroos made half-breaks.With the Kiwis down 10-0 at the break, centre Solomone Kata barged over before Johnson brilliantly set up a try to winger Jordan Rapana with three minutes remaining.Johnson crossed himself with 4sec on the clock but was held up over the tryline by fullback Darius Boyd.It was a third loss to the Kangaroos this year but Kidwells men may well get a fourth shot in the Four Nations final in Liverpool on November 20.If, as expected, they beat winless Scotland in Workington on Friday, they will qualify for the final unless England upset Australia in London two days later.Were not going to talk about any potential final, Kidwell said.Scotland are a very good side and you cant take anyone lightly at this tournament.John Wetteland Rangers Jersey . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Jeff Russell Rangers Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/1142h-zack-granite-jersey-rangers.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Phillips Valdez Rangers Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Steve Buechele Jersey . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league.KEY TO YOUR NRL CLUBS FINALS SERIES SUCCESSMELBOURNEStrength: Their no-fuss style. Missed the least tackles and made the least errors this year. Its why they finished first and were 50 points better than any other defensive outfit.Weakness: They only lost four games while close to full-strength, but they were to Canberra, Canterbury, Cronulla and Brisbane - all teams they could face in the next month.CANBERRAStrength: Their attack. They scored more points (688) this season than any other team than in the past decade and have still scored 96 points in the past fortnight without injured playmaker Blake Austin.Weakness: That 20-minute switch-off. They got away with it against Parramatta and Manly in recent weeks, but it wont wash in finals football.CRONULLAStrength: Their forwards have busted through 300 tackles this year, with Andrew Fifita accounting for 82 of them. He and Paul Gallen have also cracked the 3000-metre run mark, while the team has produced 340 offloads.Weakness: Theyve missed the second-most tackles (669) of the finals teams, and their two highest counts have come in the past month against Melbourne (41) and St George Illawarra (35).NORTH QUEENSLANDStrength: Rejuvenated Johnathan Thurston. Was quiet by his standards in the Cowboys mid-season slump, but has set up five tries and six linebreaks in the three wins leading into the finals.Weakness: Have lost to each of the other top-five teams, who they are likely to only meet between now and the decider. Also provide the least offloads of all teams in 2016, which the best defensive teams will know and rely on.BRISBANEStrength: Theyll make the opposition worrk for every opportunity.ddddddddddddThe Broncos have conceded the least penalties (5.5 per game) and made the second-least errors (8.7 per game) of all teams this year, making field position hard to come by.Weakness: Halves Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt can be inconsistent. Hunt has failed to set up a try or a linebreak in nine games this year, including in four of the past five weeks. Milford has done likewise on six occasions.PENRITHStrength: Finals matches are generally tight, and no-one wins more close ones than Penrith. Theyve won seven matches by four points or less this year, more than any team in the competition.Weakness: Only the Titans have a worse defensive record of all top-eight teams, while Penrith have also missed 32 tackles per match.CANTERBURYStrength: Sam Kasiano returns from suspension. He often provides much-needed momentum off the bench, as evidenced by the fact the Bulldogs score more points than any other team between the 20th and 40th minute.Weakness: They have the worst attacking record of any team in the finals, including an average of just 13.8 points per match since their second bye.GOLD COASTStrength: They love the grind. Work their way into almost every match and have beaten Canberra and Penrith doing that this year, before drawing with the Sharks.Weakness: Theyre still adapting to a game plan with late arrival Jarryd Hayne at the back, and wont have much more time to learn with an elimination final against Brisbane on Friday.*Stats courtesy Fox Sports Stats. ' ' '