Denver test can help lift players — Kiwis coach
Rowing pair rediscover stroke after being hit by injury
New Kiwis coach Michael Maguire believes the controversial Denver league test has the potential to improve and reinvigorate players before they return to club duty.
The former South Sydney premiership-winning coach insists there are some benefits to the June 23 match at Mile High Stadium against England, despite NRL clubs holding major concerns over their players making the hit-and-run long-haul trip to play at high altitude.
The Warriors have already ruled their Kiwi internationals out of playing the following week’s match against Cronulla and are considering resting them from the June 15 match against the Cowboys, to lessen the amount of travel before the Denver test.
But Maguire insists players gain invaluable experience and confidence from being in representative teams and says the midseason test could enhance their performances once they return to club level.
“Many times during my time as an NRL coach, players have come back from international games as better players because they’re playing at a higher level,” said Maguire.
“And it actually gives them a fresh outlook at this time of the year. I’ve actually had many players that have played international football play much better when they’ve come back to their club.
“I always enjoyed players going away for internationals or State of Origin knowing I was going to get a better player back — even though you have those thoughts of it [negatively impacting your season].
“What you get back is a player that has now experienced something special. Club level is one thing, but when you’re bringing the best players together, they’re playing at a higher level.”
The Warriors have declared only 100 per cent fit players will be made available and it remains to be seen if the likes of captain Roger TuivasaSheck, halfback Shaun Johnson and hooker Issac Luke will be released.
“I have had many conversations with [Warriors coach] Steve [Kearney] and I’m very aware of where his players are at,” he said. “But each week they’ve got to turn up fit and play well for the Warriors, so I can imagine they’ll want to have a big game next weekend.”
The fifth-placed Warriors have the weekend off with the bye this round but resume their campaign against Manly in Christchurch on June 9. Men’s pair Tom Murray and Michael Brake should be on the plane with the rest of New Zealand’s elite rowing crew shortly after overcoming injuries which cast a cloud over their European campaign.
Blenheim rower Murray and North Shore’s Brake were sidelined by injuries suffered recently but have been back in the boat this week and there are encouraging signs.
Murray broke toes in a boating mishap while Brake slipped while cleaning cobblestones and broke a wrist in trying to break his fall.
“We’ve got a winter series weekend of racing this weekend and we’ll have a discussion on final plans for them,” Rowing New Zealand’s high
We’ve got a winter series weekend of racing this weekend and we’ll have a discussion on final plans for them. Alan Cotter
performance boss Alan Cotter said yesterday.
“More than likely they’ll hop on the plane.”
The pair will probably miss the second World Cup regatta in Linz, Austria on June 21-24 but should be good to go for the Lucerne event on July 13-15.
Murray was in the under-23 world championship-winning eight in 2013 and 2014 and both were in the eight which finished sixth at the Rio Olympics two years ago.
Now they are in one of New Zealand’s rowing’s most celebrated boats.
For eight years Hamish Bond and Eric Murray bestrode the sport, unbeaten through two Olympic cycles in the pair.
When they stepped away last year — Bond to win Commonwealth Games bronze in the cycling individual time trial on the Gold Coast, Murray to retirement — Tom Murray and James Hunter won bronze at the world champs in Florida last year.
Hunter has retired and Brake now has his chance. The injuries were a cruel blow to preparations.
This year’s world championships are in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in September.