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Last Updated: Thursday, 28 October, 2004, 07:13 GMT 08:13 UK
Gleeson to bounce back even better
By Dave Woods
BBC Sport

I'm in better physical shape now than when I was playing
Martin Gleeson

Martin Gleeson has had four months to prepare for a crack at the Aussies - and he's not going to waste the opportunity to put a nightmare behind him.

The Warrington centre, caught up in the middle of a betting scandal at his former club St Helens, has served his time and paid his fine.

Now it's just a case of getting his career back on the road.

"I've done a lot in the last four months, but I've also spent a lot of time on my own," said the 24-year-old, rated as one of the best centres in the world before his ban.

"It's seemed like forever since I got banned. I had about six weeks when I went on holiday and chilled out, then I slowly got back into it."

It may have been tough for Gleeson to find the inspiration to return to training had it not been for a phone call from Brian Noble.

The Great Britain coach called him soon after he was handed his punishment to tell him he was still a part of his plans for the up-coming Gillette Tri-Nations Series.

This will be like my first game of the year after a pre-season build-up
Martin Gleeson

"He dangled that carrot and I've built up training towards that," said Gleeson.

"I'm in better physical shape now than when I was playing. All I've been doing is running and loads of weights. I've put on a bit of size and strength.

"I had a behind closed doors game at Warrington and I felt alright in that, so hopefully I will be fine.

"This will be like my first game of the year after a pre-season build-up - and I was flying at the start of the year, so it shouldn't be any different."

So will there be a release of pent-up frustration when and if he takes to the field against the Aussies on Saturday night?

"There probably will be, but you can't let that take over in a Test match," he said.

"You could do something wrong and jeopardise the team."




2004 TRI-NATIONS

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Saturday, 13 November 2010
Australia 12 - 16
(6 - 6)
New Zealand R
Tries:
Tate, Slater
  Tries:
Kenny-Dowall, Nightingale, Fien
 
 
 
Goals:
Smith 2
  Goals:
Marshall 2

Suncorp Stadium

Saturday, 06 November 2010
England 36 - 10
(24 - 0)
Papua New Guinea R
Tries:
Robinson 2, Clubb 4, Harrison
  Tries:
Aizue, Yere
 
 
 
Goals:
Westwood 3, Widdop
  Goals:
Aiye

Eden Park

New Zealand 20 - 34
(10 - 18)
Australia R
Tries:
Pritchard, Nightingale, Kenny-Dowall
  Tries:
Cronk, Morris 2, Tate, Boyd, Lawrence
 
 
 
Goals:
Marshall 5
  Goals:
Smith 3, Carney 2

Eden Park

Sunday, 31 October 2010
Australia 34 - 14
(26 - 8)
England R
Tries:
Lewis 2, Slater, Tate, Tonga, Tuqiri
  Tries:
Burgess, Robinson
 
 
 
Goals:
Smith 5
  Goals:
Westwood 2, Cudjoe

AAMI Park

Saturday, 30 October 2010
New Zealand 76 - 12
(46 - 0)
Papua New Guinea R
Tries:
Perrett 3, Smith 3, Sa'u 3, Hohaia, Eastwood, Luke, Nightingale, Manu
  Tries:
Yere, Nami
 
 
 
Goals:
Marshall 8, Luke 2
  Goals:
Tongia 2

International Stadium

Sunday, 24 October 2010
Australia 42 - 0
(26 - 0)
Papua New Guinea R
Tries:
Slater, Tate, Cronk, Tonga 2, Morris, Smith, Lockyer
 
 
 
 
Goals:
Smith 5
 

Parramatta Stadium

Saturday, 23 October 2010
New Zealand 24 - 10
(12 - 0)
England R
Tries:
Sa'u, Hohaia, Kenny-Dowall, Marshall
  Tries:
Roby, Widdop
 
 
 
Goals:
Marshall 4
  Goals:
Widdop

Westpac Stadium

Saturday, 16 October 2010
New Zealand Maori 18 - 18
(0 - 18)
England R
Tries:
Thompson, Heremaia, Taumata
  Tries:
Atkins, S Tomkins, O'Loughlin
 
 
 
Goals:
Locke 3
  Goals:
Widdop 3


Wednesday, 06 October 2010
Wales 6 - 13
(6 - 6)
Italy R
Tries:
Thomas
  Tries:
Caligari, Falcone
 
  Drop-goals:
Stewart
 
Goals:
Reece
  Goals:
Mantellato 2

Racecourse Ground

Saturday, 12 June 2010
England 60 - 6
(34 - 6)
France R
Tries:
Widdop, Briscoe, S Tomkins 4, Shenton 2, Ellis 2, Bridge
  Tries:
Bentley
 
 
 
Goals:
Sinfield 6, Widdop 2
  Goals:
Mounis

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