Raelene roasts the Kiwis
Report released today will slate NZRL and Kiwis management for World Cup disaster
Aglaring lack of leadership from the top down is what the independent review into the Kiwis’ failed World Cup campaign will reveal today. The long-awaited review, conducted by leading sports lawyer Tim Castle and former Bulldogs and Netball New Zealand boss Raelene Castle, will be released to the public today.
The review will highlight a lack of direction and poor decisions made by the front office, Kiwis management team and playing group.
Recently-departed chief executive Alex Hayton and coach David Kidwell do not come across well in the review.
Hayton saved the board from taking action by resigning before the review became public, while there now appears no way the off-contract Kidwell will be reappointed as a result of these findings.
The appointments process for key roles will be criticised in the report, which will note those poor decisions created a team strategy that wasn’t up to the level needed for a major global tournament.
Hayton appointed Kidwell in October 2016, following the sudden departure of Stephen Kearney to the Warriors. Hayton also backed Kidwell despite reviews into a disappointing late-2016 campaign in the UK and a loss to Australia in Canberra in 2017, after which captain Jesse Bromwich and teammate Kevin Proctor were caught up in an off-field drug scandal.
Despite that, Hayton gave Kidwell carte blanche in his planning for the World Cup tournament, which included unusual decisions such as a three-day marae stay, the appointment of veteran Australian administrator Shane Richardson as campaign manager, and changing the training schedule.
New Zealand lost to Tonga in pool play and then exited in the quarterfinals against Fiji.
Richardson won’t be spared either, the report noting he was allowed to return to Australia between games despite being charged with running the side.
No-one in the NZRL leadership will escape responsibility for one of the worst performances in the sport’s history.
Over the past 12 months, a number of long-standing board members, who presided over the appointments of Hayton and Kidwell, have moved on, with the last remaining one — John Bishop — set to exit in June.