Kiwis to draw from 2008 win
As the Kiwis look to put a tumultuous World Cup build-up behind them, Thomas Leuluai says the current crop of players can draw on New Zealand’s miraculous triumph at the 2008 event.
The Kiwis assembled in Auckland yesterday two weeks after their plans were thrown into disarray when star forward Jason Taumalolo and two other players turned their backs on the team to play for Tonga.
Their problematic preparation, which includes the suspension of former captain Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor in May, can be traced back to last September when David Kidwell replaced Stephen Kearney as coach.
And there certainly is a similar feel to the situation that faced the national squad nine years ago before they went on to create history.
Like Kidwell, Kearney had only been recently appointed as coach ironically after Kidwell and Roy Asotasi led a player revolt against Gary Kemble following a terrible run of results, which flowed onto the start of Kearney’s reign as they suffered heavy defeats to Australia in the Anzac test and World Cup opener.
The Kiwis, of course, regrouped in the final to pull off one of the greatest upsets the sport has seen and Leuluai, who started that match against the Kangaroos at hooker, believes his side can learn a lot from the way the 2008 version rallied together.
‘‘We went through the same sort of things, we didn’t go too well in the first couple of games and everyone wrote us off,’’ the Wigan playmaker said. ‘‘But you build that bond, you’re away for eight weeks together with a bunch of guys and we dug in.
‘‘From what I’ve seen in the newspapers since I’ve been back, you wouldn’t know we were playing in the World Cup if I’m honest, so there’s no pressure on us.’’
While New Zealand famously called on the services of super coach Wayne Bennett to assist Kearney in 2008, the team was led brilliantly on the field by the likes of hard-heads Nathan Cayless and Jeremy Smith.
A veteran of 35 tests, Leuluai will be expected to perform a similar role alongside fellow 2008 survivors, skipper Adam Blair and Simon Mannering.
The 32-year-old was initially shocked by Taumalolo’s decision but he said morale at the Kiwis’ first training session was only positive.
Less than two weeks out from their opening game against Samoa at Mt Smart, they simply want to focus on themselves.
Although, Leuluai admitted he would have no problem playing with Taumalolo or fellow Tongan defectors Manu Ma’u and David Fusitu’a should they be selected for the Kiwis in the future.
‘‘I could if he felt like he wanted to play for New Zealand,’’ Leuluai said. ‘‘The rules make it so you can do that. At the end of the day he’s half Tongan, half New Zealand. Who are we to say that he can’t represent the country where his parents come from, so I’ve got no problems with it.’’
Leuluai only recently arrived in New Zealand after spending his first season back in the Super League with Wigan.
Players often fall out of Kiwis contention when they move to the UK and Leuluai feared he might have played his last test when he decided to leave the Warriors at the end of last year.
With all his experience and an ability to play in the halves or hooker, Leuluai was always in Kidwell’s plans.