Gavin-Shuker

This time last year Gavin Shuker had decided to put international touch behind him. Winning another Trans Tasman open crown was the pinnacle he thought he should bow out on.

But 12 months on and with a chance to have another crack at Australia's arch-rivals beckoning, he couldn't say no.

As motivated as ever, Shuker is determined to ensure the green-and-gold's dominance over New Zealand continues when the teams clash at Queens Park in the Trans-Tasman Masters Series this weekend.

Australia and the Kiwis will from tonight battle it out in men's and women's 30s and men's 40s, 45s and 50s.

''I didn't expect to get into it so quick, but with the Trans Tasman Masters  it's the first time they've held it in a little while  it should be a very interesting comp and a few of the divisions are going to be very tight, I think,'' Shuker said.

''We've had the wood on the Kiwis, but the over-40s should be a very tight division and the same with the women's 30s.

''(In the men's 30s) New Zealand have a couple of the boys who actually are still playing opens  Scotty Grant, who's their coach, is a very respected player  so it should be a very tight comp.''

It is the first time the masters have been played since 1991.

Australia 30s captain Shuker has represented the open team since 1997 and has skippered the side for the past six years.

Along with Gary Sonda, Phil Gyemore and Matt Curran, the Rockhampton product was one of four players who stood down from open international duties after clinching last year's open Trans Tasman series in Wollongong.

While the speed might have diminished, Shuker said the will to win was as strong as ever.

''It doesn't change one bit, when you get out there, it will be full on,'' he said.

The Aussies may need to step up when the series kicks off tonight, after they were defeated in a preliminary game by Thuringowa on Wednesday night.

It was just one of many upsets, with the locals either beating or drawing their international opponents in eight of 15 games.

Tonight's games start at 5pm, with the final match at 9.10pm.

Preliminary results: Townsville W27 3 d NZ W30 2l Thuringowa M427 4 drew NZ mens 40 4; NZ M30 3 d Townsville Mens Open blue 2; Townsville M40 3 drew NZ Mens 45 3; NZ Mens 50 4 d Townsville M50 3; Thuringowa MO 4 d Australian M30 3; Townsville WO 5 d Australia W30 4; RumRunners 3 d NZ 50 1; Australian M50 3 d Townsville M50 1; Townsville Green MO 5 drew NZ M30 5; Townsville Blue MO 8 d NZ M40 3; NZ WO 6 d Thuringowa WO 1; Australia 45 5 d Thuringowa M27 4; NZ M45 5 d Townsville M27 3; Australia M40 12 d Townsville M40 3.

Article courtesy of the Townsville Bulletin, written by Antony Stewart