Tough times coming as Kiwis confront England
About 30 minutes before kickoff tomorrow, reality will hit the Kiwis.
The afterglow of the Kangaroos victory two weeks ago will have long faded, as they look out on a parochial local crowd on a chilly afternoon in Hull. They will be about to start a journey that while not quite mission impossible, is a daunting prospect nevertheless.
Across more than 100 years of touring England, the Kiwis have rarely come home with the silverware.
They have contested 16 test series since 1907 and won only three.
Even at times when the Kiwis clearly had superior teams — such as in 1985 or 2002 — they could only draw the series.
And in 2015, when Stephen Kearney’s side arrived ranked No 1 in the world, they left in despair, as the home side dominated them in Hull and Wigan, with the Kiwis grinding out a close 9-2 victory in London.
“It’s a tough place to go,” said former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett. “Always has been, always will be, but especially at the moment as this English team have been together for a long time.”
Barnett was in the last New Zealand team to enjoy success in the Northern Hemisphere, with a 2-0 series win after victories in Huddersfield, Bolton and a draw in London.
“There have been a few factors,” said Barnett. “The selection of players at this time of year is challenging, with players unavailable due to injury or surgery. And the officiating can be quite different. The referees there control the game in a different way. They allow a few more things and that can be hard for players who are not used to it. It has an effect.”
The conditions are also a factor. The Kiwis will play in stadiums with grandstands that hug the fields and passionate fans making their presence felt just metres away. There are also compressed in-goals, often considerably smaller than in the NRL, and conditions gets colder and darker as the tour progresses.
“The crowds play a big part,” said Barnett. “It’s a real rugby league zone and you can feel it. It’s something that can take some time to get used to.”
Most importantly, the English team lifts immensely on home soil. Especially for those local players who aren’t part of the NRL, this is the grandest stage, and they often take the chance to prove a point.
Wayne Bennett’s team have been building for a long time, and this is one of the last chances for their golden generation to shine.
But the Kiwis appear to have their best opportunity in years. They have got most of their key men on board and an exciting crop of in-form youngsters.
And coach Michael Maguire could be the ace in the pack. The 44-yearold spent two years at Wigan, coaching 70 matches.
He understands the vagaries and challenges of performing in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and will have his team well prepared.