Meat-tray mentality persists
OPINION: So much for that review then.
Honestly. Just when things got sufficiently grim for New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) to contemplate meaningful change, they plunge themselves back into the chook-raffle era.
After last year’s Rugby League World Cup debacle, which saw the Kiwis lose to Tonga and Fiji – yes Fiji – surely this was the moment they’d do whatever it took to source a credible coach for the national side?
David Kidwell should never have been appointed and his behaviour, and the team’s dismal results, were entirely predictable. But, hey, let’s have a review. Let’s buy a bit of time. Heck, we’ll even publicise the panel we’ve got hunting for Kidwell’s replacement. You wish they hadn’t.
With the best will in the world, Dean Bell, Frank Endacott and Monty Betham are not the incisive, relevant rugby league minds New Zealand needs to stem the continual embarrassment caused by the Kiwis.
Let’s start with Bell, who heads the panel. He was a fine Kiwi, but that was 30 years ago. His days at Wigan, when the club was a force on the world stage, earned him great respect. He was far from the best player on the roster, but he was a thorough professional whose high standards became an example for others.
Again, though, that’s a long time ago and Bell’s enjoyed less success and longevity in coaching and administration.
How about Endacott? Nice man, always happy to be quoted. Did very well as coach of the Canterbury provincial side of the late 1980s and early 90s and went on to create a warm environment within the Kiwis. But, and you hate to go on about it, that was a long time ago as well.
Stories about Betham helping us all buy the New Zealand Warriors appear to have dried up. It was only last year that he had ‘‘a dream’’ and a memorable Facebook post where the most pertinent and inspirational words were written in CAPITAL letters, for emphasis. If we all pitched in a bit of dough, Betham said, he’d take care of the rest.
Rugby league has a great tradition in New Zealand. Some fabulous people have done a lot, often with very little, to keep the club and provincial game going. From those modest beginnings, generations of elite players have been produced. No-one disputes that or seeks to minimise it.
But the elite game has to be powered by more than meat packs and poker nights. You look at the men assembled to choose the next Kiwis coach and you fear another Kidwell.
It’s not just about being able to spot a credible candidate. It’s about the candidate having confidence that they’re dealing with credible people too. Not just some good blokes to have a chat and a Chinese meal with.
That’s where Waimarama Taumaunu has to come in. She and one of the authors of the NZRL’s recent review, Raelene Castle, are tight from their days running the Silver Ferns netball team, although that’s not nearly the extent of Taumaunu’s talents.
She’s exceptionally smart, well spoken and thorough, and will be the best-prepared member of Bell’s panel. If anyone’s going to inspire confidence in a prospective coach, it will be her.
The NZRL aren’t in a position to get this wrong. They must know that, which is why it’s so demoralising to see who they’ve recruited to find a coach.
There is a big rugby league audience out there. Tonga’s World Cup following showed that. But they’ll only support winners.
The NZRL and Kiwis have to do more to shake their loser’s tag.