DIEHARD
08-11-07, 09:52 AM
Kiwis' foundation built for failure
At a time fans needed them the most, the Kiwis have put in three of the worst performances in recent history to continue New Zealand's horror sporting year.
With the All Blacks' quarter-final exit from the World Cup still fresh in everyone's minds the Kiwis had a chance to restore some sporting pride in the name of their country.
But so far they've done just the opposite in 2007 and what has happened both on and off the field has set the sport back years on an international level.
It's not just the players who are to blame - the trouble starts from the top with a flawed management structure and questionable moves at the head coaching position over the past season.
Since NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers and director of football Graham Lowe have come into the picture the sport has only declined at test level.
And this dramatic turn has come after the Kiwis' best ever season in 2005 when they took out the Tri-Nations in emphatic fashion over Australia.
Speaking to ONE News this week, Lowe said something that really had me shaking my head. I couldn't believe my ears.
When asked what he thought of coach Gary Kemble's current predicament Lowe said:
"I think he looks out of his depth as well to me at the moment, but all coaches know you either sink or swim.
"You all get out of your depth at some stage but that's inexperience that's all that that is."
Come again Graham. Did you really just say that?
I was under the impression that this was test rugby league, not under 16s club football.
So an admission that our country's "premier" coach doesn't know what he's doing. All Lowe's comments really proved was how much strife the future of the Kiwis is really in.
People can talk up the fact that the players have lost a sense of pride in the jersey and aren't playing with passion, but I don't buy into that.
Playing test football for your country will always inspire passion, that's a given - but in the Kiwis case players have been set-up for failure right from the start.
Another excuse I've heard is that Kemble isn't at fault for the Kiwis dreadful run because it's up to the boys on the field to perform on the day.
Even though there is a raft of players not available (which I'll go into later) there is a lot of raw talent out on the field.
But it seems they don't know what to do when it comes down to it, and that is a direct reflection of leadership.
It is the coach's responsibility to prepare players both physically and mentally for games, a critical ingredient that the newest batch of Kiwis isn't getting.
That lack of preparation translates directly to the field and just like that you get a 58-0 blowout.
The trouble started when Brian McClennan "resigned" to pursue the coaching position with the Leeds Rhinos in the UK Super League.
At the time McClennan had said he would be happy to continue coaching the Kiwis from abroad, an option that was shot down by the NZRL.
What a foolish move that was.
McClennan had brought the Kiwis back to the fore as a formidable and respected opponent.
It just shows what an intelligent coach Bluey was in how quickly it has all fallen to pieces now that he's gone.
While losing by 58 points to Australia was a shock, at least there was comfort in the fact that the Kangaroos were a top side.
The same can't be said for Great Britain.
Losing the first test 14-20, it seemed there was still hope for the Kiwis.
But those hopes were shattered last week then New Zealand was thrashed 44-0 by a very average side.
One thing that is in Kemble's defence is the pool of top-choice players has reduced drastically in the past two seasons.
With retired players like Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana and injuries to Sonny Bill Williams, Brent Webb, Benji Marshall, Jerome Ropati and Krisnan Inu, Kemble has been denied half a starting line-up.
But there is still a high-class list of guys waiting in the wings that haven't got their shot, and probably should have.
I'm talking about the likes of Ali Lauititi, Jake Webster, Iafeta Paleaasina and even Matt Utai.
Those are just some of the guys that seem to have gone under Kemble's radar.
The Kiwis have now scored just 14 points and haemorrhaged 122 in just three games under Kemble.
And for the immediate future it looks like the Kiwis will remain flightless in the world of test rugby league barring a miracle.
A disturbingly long list of recent personnel the Kiwis are sorely missing:
Brian McClennan
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki
Brent Webb
Nigel Vagana
Benji Marshall
Sonny Bill Williams
Krisnan Inu
Nathan Cayless
Jason Cayless
David Kidwell
Ali Lauititi
Jerome Ropati
David Fa'alogo
Iafeta Paleaaesina
Motu Tony
Jake Webster
Matt Utai
www.tvnz.co.nz
At a time fans needed them the most, the Kiwis have put in three of the worst performances in recent history to continue New Zealand's horror sporting year.
With the All Blacks' quarter-final exit from the World Cup still fresh in everyone's minds the Kiwis had a chance to restore some sporting pride in the name of their country.
But so far they've done just the opposite in 2007 and what has happened both on and off the field has set the sport back years on an international level.
It's not just the players who are to blame - the trouble starts from the top with a flawed management structure and questionable moves at the head coaching position over the past season.
Since NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers and director of football Graham Lowe have come into the picture the sport has only declined at test level.
And this dramatic turn has come after the Kiwis' best ever season in 2005 when they took out the Tri-Nations in emphatic fashion over Australia.
Speaking to ONE News this week, Lowe said something that really had me shaking my head. I couldn't believe my ears.
When asked what he thought of coach Gary Kemble's current predicament Lowe said:
"I think he looks out of his depth as well to me at the moment, but all coaches know you either sink or swim.
"You all get out of your depth at some stage but that's inexperience that's all that that is."
Come again Graham. Did you really just say that?
I was under the impression that this was test rugby league, not under 16s club football.
So an admission that our country's "premier" coach doesn't know what he's doing. All Lowe's comments really proved was how much strife the future of the Kiwis is really in.
People can talk up the fact that the players have lost a sense of pride in the jersey and aren't playing with passion, but I don't buy into that.
Playing test football for your country will always inspire passion, that's a given - but in the Kiwis case players have been set-up for failure right from the start.
Another excuse I've heard is that Kemble isn't at fault for the Kiwis dreadful run because it's up to the boys on the field to perform on the day.
Even though there is a raft of players not available (which I'll go into later) there is a lot of raw talent out on the field.
But it seems they don't know what to do when it comes down to it, and that is a direct reflection of leadership.
It is the coach's responsibility to prepare players both physically and mentally for games, a critical ingredient that the newest batch of Kiwis isn't getting.
That lack of preparation translates directly to the field and just like that you get a 58-0 blowout.
The trouble started when Brian McClennan "resigned" to pursue the coaching position with the Leeds Rhinos in the UK Super League.
At the time McClennan had said he would be happy to continue coaching the Kiwis from abroad, an option that was shot down by the NZRL.
What a foolish move that was.
McClennan had brought the Kiwis back to the fore as a formidable and respected opponent.
It just shows what an intelligent coach Bluey was in how quickly it has all fallen to pieces now that he's gone.
While losing by 58 points to Australia was a shock, at least there was comfort in the fact that the Kangaroos were a top side.
The same can't be said for Great Britain.
Losing the first test 14-20, it seemed there was still hope for the Kiwis.
But those hopes were shattered last week then New Zealand was thrashed 44-0 by a very average side.
One thing that is in Kemble's defence is the pool of top-choice players has reduced drastically in the past two seasons.
With retired players like Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana and injuries to Sonny Bill Williams, Brent Webb, Benji Marshall, Jerome Ropati and Krisnan Inu, Kemble has been denied half a starting line-up.
But there is still a high-class list of guys waiting in the wings that haven't got their shot, and probably should have.
I'm talking about the likes of Ali Lauititi, Jake Webster, Iafeta Paleaasina and even Matt Utai.
Those are just some of the guys that seem to have gone under Kemble's radar.
The Kiwis have now scored just 14 points and haemorrhaged 122 in just three games under Kemble.
And for the immediate future it looks like the Kiwis will remain flightless in the world of test rugby league barring a miracle.
A disturbingly long list of recent personnel the Kiwis are sorely missing:
Brian McClennan
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki
Brent Webb
Nigel Vagana
Benji Marshall
Sonny Bill Williams
Krisnan Inu
Nathan Cayless
Jason Cayless
David Kidwell
Ali Lauititi
Jerome Ropati
David Fa'alogo
Iafeta Paleaaesina
Motu Tony
Jake Webster
Matt Utai
www.tvnz.co.nz