Maguire gets Denver player approval
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire says every New Zealand player he has spoken to wants to play in the Denver test.
Over the last few weeks there have been a number of players who have publicly spoken of their reservation around going to Denver for the June 23 test against England at Mile High Stadium.
The NRL, the clubs and the Rugby League Players association have all expressed their concerns about players making the trip to the other side of the Pacific Ocean during the middle of the season.
However, Maguire said he has spent the past few weeks talking to many of the Kiwis players and hasn’t yet found one who has made himself unavailable.
‘‘I’ve been around a number of players and they’re all keen,’’ Maguire told Stuff.
‘‘I guess through all this external noise, my focus is around preparing the best team to play at the international level.
‘‘We’ve got to realise this game was put in place some time ago, and in my eyes it’s about moving forward.
‘‘Those sorts of things will get discussed after, but there is also the understanding that this is an international game and every young [Kiwi] player goes through their football career dreaming of playing for New Zealand.
‘‘It’s not often in your life that you get to play for your country and when that time comes, you take it with both hands.
‘‘Like myself as a coach, when the opportunity came to coach at international level, I’m the same.
‘‘All of those things externally will be worked through when they need to, but we’re playing a test match in three weeks time, and I hope everyone realises that, because it’s the pinnacle of rugby league.’’
Maguire says he’s confident that the players going to Denver will be looked after and he understands that he not only wants them at their best for the test, but that they’ll also return to their club in the best possible condition.
‘‘For going to Denver, everything is in place,’’ he said.
‘‘The boys are flying business class, they’re going to be looked after extremely well and that’s right down to sleep times on the way there and even on the way back, preparing for their game after the Denver test.’’
While all the current or potential future Kiwis are available, Maguire said those players who jumped ship at late notice to play for Tonga on the eve of last year’s World Cup won’t be back.
Maguire understands that the likes of Jason Taumalolo, David Fusitu’a, Solomone Kata, Manu Ma’u and Sio Sui Taukeiaho will all choose to play for Tonga against Samoa on June 23.
‘‘Those guys, I think, are going to stick with Tonga,’’ Maguire said.
‘‘I’ve had bits of communication around that and for myself coming in, I want players who will go out and put their bodies on the line for that jersey.
‘‘That’s what creates great teams, players who want to play for that jersey and people who’ll die for that jersey.
‘‘Those people who show that and talk about that, then they’re the type of player that I’m looking for.
‘‘The characters I’m looking for are the ones that will get the job done and get the win.’’
Meanwhile, Maguire said Ben Gardiner has been appointed as one of the team’s assistant coach and he’s still going through the process of getting another, who’ll be a New Zealander.