NZ’s World Cup chances have taken a big hit
Herald
Dale Budge comment
The Kiwis will go into the Rugby League World Cup without half of the starting side that ran out to face the Kangaroos in Canberra in the ill-fated Anzac test earlier this year.
Only seven of that side is in the 24-man squad named yesterday. It is without doubt a weaker side than most pundits were expecting for this Cup.
The chances of beating a good Kangaroos side were not particularly high even at full strength but they have diminished further without former skipper Jesse Bromwich, experienced second rower Kevin Proctor, fiveeighth Kieran Foran, premiership winning second rower Tohu Harris, 2016 Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo, Jordan Kahu, David Fusitu’a, Manu Mau’u and Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
They haven’t been able to select injured players such as Ben Matulino or Corey Harawira-Naera either.
There is no getting around the fact the Kiwis’ forward strength, that was so prominent in previous seasons, won’t be there without so many key players.
The go-forward is questionable without Bromwich and Taumalolo while the make-up of the back-row looks the biggest area of weakness. The balance of the back-row looked good with Simon Mannering’s toughness and defensive capabilities, Taumalolo and Tuakeiaho’s power mixed with the aggression and creativity of Mau’u and Harris. Now it appears the back-row will feature Mannering with the likes of Joseph Tapine, Isaac Liu, Elijah Taylor and Kenny Bromwich — solid but hardly a clear area of strength.
Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was originally left out of the squad but the selectors went back to him when others pulled out.
Coach David Kidwell is convinced he is a good fit for the team after mostly being on the outer since the last World Cup. “That was another one of those tough conversations,” he said.
“But I had a really good conversation with him and we looked each other in the eye and he said he’s committed to the black and white jersey and he wants to give back to the jersey and he’s passionate about it.”
There has to be a question mark around how the play-making will go as well. Shaun Johnson is coming off an injury and has hardly played in the past three months while there will be inexperienced players at hooker and five-eighth even if they use veteran Thomas Leuluai in the side.
There was no space for Warriors hooker Issac Luke, the selectors feeling his poor NRL form meant they couldn’t justify his inclusion.
“That was a tough one,” Kidwell said. “We had a robust conversation with selectors but we decided a bit of inconsistent form there, this year and we’ve gone with a young fella Danny Levi. He has played really consistently for Newcastle.”
There are five players named to make their Kiwis debuts. Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake is rewarded for a powerful NRL season while giant Storm forward Nelson AsofaSolomona is included. Liu played consistently for the Roosters while Parramatta utility Brad Takairangi’s versatility saw his inclusion.
Veterans Jason Nightingale and Taylor earned selection when they might not have been first choice players while Peta Hiku also gets the nod after a strong season at English club Warrington.
Despite the setbacks the Kiwis should still be favoured to win all of their pool games and at least make the semifinals.
In the last two years everything that could go wrong, has.
The culture of the team has clearly been poor if the previous captain was caught buying cocaine at 5am the day after an embarrassing test loss and the team’s best player turned his back on them a day before the team was announced.
Kidwell has talked about forming a new culture. The proof will be in the pudding. If the side back up the talk and play to their potential a spot in the final is realistic and who knows what can happen in a one-off game?