Lockyer not anticipating off-field problems at Cup

Australian captain Darren Lockyer says he is not expecting any off-field problems from his team-mates during the Rugby League World Cup.

The squad went into camp in Sydney on Saturday ahead of its opening game against New Zealand on Sunday.

Lockyer and a number of his Brisbane team-mates have been involved in off-field incidents this year, but he says the Kangaroos squad is very focused on winning the tournament.

"Whenever you come into camp the honour of playing for your country and then I guess the code of conduct is sort of read out to you," he said.

"Everyone realises the position they're in and I'm sure they respect that and I'm sure they will."

England and Papua New Guinea complete Australia's pool for the tournament with the top three teams qualifying for the finals.

Australia goes into the tournament as the short-priced favourite but Lockyer said the players know they are in for a tough time.

"We know that not all the time the favourites win," Lockyer said.

"We realise that it is going to be tough and that there's absolutely no room for complacency from us."

Lockyer was joined in Sydney today by the captains of the other nine competing nations and all expressed excitement over the World Cup, which was last played eight years ago.

Kiwi captain Nathan Cayless says the New Zealand team know it is going to have to improve on its performance at international level in recent seasons if it is to be any chance of threatening for the title.

"We need to go out and perform the full 80 minutes and not just 60 or 40 minutes as we have in the past," Cayless said.

"That is going to be the biggest test for us."

The Australia and New Zealand game on Sunday follows the official opening ceremony.

The tournament begins with England up against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on Saturday.