Kidwell banking on Blair’s values

There is a line in the superb Paul Thomas Anderson film Magnolia which goes: ‘‘We may be through with the past, but the past is never through with us.’’

And for the Kiwis and David Kidwell that’s something they’re continuing to live with as what was supposed to be another chance to move on with the naming of Adam Blair as the new captain, was again an opportunity to focus on the past.

The dumping of Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor for allegedly taking cocaine after the Anzac Test in Canberra was one of the most shocking moments in the history of New Zealand rugby league.

Kidwell is trying to focus attention on the World Cup later this year and in naming the Broncos prop as his new skipper he’s chosen someone who he believes will do a better job at upholding standards than Bromwich did.

‘‘The important thing is, we’re moving forward,’’ Kidwell said at a press conference yesterday in Auckland. ’’We’ve chosen a captain who lives and breathes those values we want and I know he’s got high standards and that’s what I want throughout the whole Kiwis team and the staff as well.’’

The Kiwis will be under intense scrutiny from now until the end of the World Cup and in picking Blair, Kidwell’s made a smart decision.

‘‘For me it’s just making sure they (the players) live up to our standards first and foremost and I’ve got to lead that from the front,’’ Blair said.

‘‘But at the same time I’ve got some quality guys around me who really live those standards, lift our culture, remember where we’re from, how we got there and keep pushing our culture.’’