Maguire in a bullish mood for Kangaroos
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire had enough of the Australians talking up their team at a joint press conference yesterday and bit back.
In league it’s still a ridiculous tradition to hold joint media sessions on the days before tests and this one at Mount Smart Stadium was ambushed by Australian media firing a never ending stream of questions to Mal Meninga and Boyd Corner.
Maguire initially sat patiently as if a spectator at an Australian only press conference, but when someone posed a question to him about Luke Keary, who he coached at the Rabbitohs, he’d had enough.
It was a reasonable question, but Maguire didn’t want to talk about the Kangaroos.
‘‘I’ve got a lot of respect for Luke, but I’d actually like to talk about my players,’’ Maguire barked.
‘‘I’ve got a fair few decent players that I’d like to talk about. I’d put more of a focus around my boys.
‘‘The fact that Kodi Nikorima and Shaun Johnson are keen to drive this team forward to where we’re going.
‘‘We came together early in the week and we’ve spoke about what we want to be as a team.
‘‘It’s the values and characters of the people coming in and that’s something I want to push right now, that’s what these players have got and I’m really looking forward to them coming together and performing.’’
It’s no surprise that the Australian media are focused on the Kangaroos, but the vibe from them is that it’s not going so much of a contest tonight and it could even be called a warmup game for next weekend’s test against Tonga.
But why would anyone give the Kiwis a chance? They haven’t beaten the Kangaroos since 2015 and lost to Tonga and Fiji last year and lost 36-18 to England in June.
However, even if few others do, Maguire says he believes in this team and what they can achieve on tonight.
‘‘I’m really confident,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve got a good bunch of boys and I’ve spent the last three or four months getting around to a lot of the players and the enthusiasm and passion they have for playing for the Kiwis is something I’ve never experienced before.
‘‘They’re all focused on making sure this week is a strong week in preparation and obviously looking forward to the game.’’
This is, though, just the second test Maguire is coaching the Kiwis for and he’s started from a pretty low base.
He’s been busy finding out as much about the players as he can, like how to get the best out of them and what makes them tick. A lot of them may already know each other well, but Maguire is still learning.
‘‘It was great to see all the boys walk into camp and all get along,’’ he said.
‘‘Once you get to know someone it’s about building relationships and doing that is one of the things we want to take moving forward.’’
For new Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-zelezniak, it will be a special night to lead the team out, especially as he’s the great grandson of Steve Watene, the first Ma¯ ori captain of the Kiwis.
‘‘It’s a big occasion for myself, but it’s a bigger occasion for my family, because I’m someone representing them and representing these boys and this country,’’ Watene Zelezniak said.
‘‘It’s starting to sink in now, but I think we have a lot of leaders in this team and although I’ve got a ‘c’ next to my name, but we’ve got boys like Jared [Waerea-hargreaves], Jesse [Bromwich] and others to help me and they’re making the job easier.’’
After 16 years of playing at the highest level – in both league and rugby – Honey Hireme initially went into this season thinking it would be her last.
But as she prepares to lead the Kiwi Ferns against Australia today alongside co-captain Laura Mariu, it appears Hireme has had a change of heart.
Who would blame her? The 37-year-old centre, who has represented New Zealand at World Cups in league, rugby and sevens, has shown so signs of slowing down on the field.
After topping the try-scoring charts at last year’s Rugby League World Cup, ‘Honey Bill’ had an impressive stint for St George Illawarra in the inaugural NRL women’s premiership last month.
And with the women’s game going from strength to strength thanks to that tournament, Hireme is keen to remain involved.
‘‘To be honest I thought after the NRL I was going to hang up the boots. But just being a part of it all, I’ve still got that fire in me,’’ she told Stuff.
‘‘I’m keen to stick around as long as the body’s willing to follow.
Mentally and physically I’m feeling really good and I’m just going to take it year by year as I get closer to 40.’’
When the NRLW was announced most assumed Hireme would turn out for the Warriors.
Instead, she decided to leave her comfort zone and test herself in a new environment at the Dragons.
Hireme is one of several Kiwi Ferns who played for Australian clubs, including four at the premiership-winning Brisbane Broncos.
She believes those experiences have provided a big boost in their bid to avenge last year’s World Cup final defeat to the Jillaroos, which still burns for Hireme and the remaining 10 players from that game.
‘‘Just being able to take on board some of the things they do well, getting to know some of these Jillaroos girls and their strengths and weaknesses, that’s all going to help us on Saturday,’’ she said.
The entire squad has benefited from having high-quality games in the lead-up to the test, Hireme added, which has not always been the case in previous years.
‘‘We’ve all come off the back of the women’s NRL competition and you can already feel that the standards have lifted in terms of the girls’ professionalism and skill level. They were tough games so physically we’re all very well conditioned.
‘‘We’ve got an awesome coaching staff that have put together a really great game plan for us. So I think you’re going to see a bit of variety this week. We’re looking to play some really good spectator footy and use all of our strengths across the field.’’
Part of the triple header at Mt Smart Stadium against Australia involving the men’s side and Junior Kiwis, it’s the first time the Kiwi Ferns have played on home soil since 2010.
It’s a big occasion for the Kelvin Wright-coached side, who have relished having recently retired Kiwi and Warriors legend Simon Mannering helping them prepare.
Mannering’s official role is team trainer but Hireme says he has been chipping in across the board, from running the water at training and passing on leadership advice to driving the team van.
‘‘I don’t think he realises how in awe we all are of him being a part of our group and he’s so genuine about it,’’ she said.
‘‘He’s giving us all these little tips at training, driving our van, giving us water bottles – he’s just getting the job done.’’