There was high drama last night, with the naming of sides for the mid-year Trans Tasman rugby league Test match, and New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney picking the most interesting Kiwi side in recent memory.
Perhaps looking to distance themselves as far as possible from the Australian’s dull, steady-as-she-goes approach, the black ‘n whites have gone with a team that could be described as ‘different’ even by their usual wacky standards.
Six new faces will debut on Friday night – Warriors’ three-game veteran Siliva Havili, the Olsen Filipainia for a new generation in Penrith reserve grader Isaac John, as well as Peta Hiku, utility Ben Henry and props Martin Taupau and Kenny Bromwich
While an injury list second only to the combined series of Grey’s Anatomy and some last-minute withdrawals (does Sonny Bill Williams know Tohu Harris got picked yet?) ensured there would be a few shocks, it appears as though Kearney has gone for the full M. Night Shyamalan reaction.
Where the selection of Havili and the talented John can be put down to the cupboards being barer than Luke Bailey’s bonce, and Hiku and Taupau are very much in-form players, Ben Henry has struggled for game time over the last couple of, well, years and Kenny Bromwich has been quiet in a sucky Storm team.
Look elsewhere though, and it’s the omission of big-name players that has got the crazy meter cranked up to 11.
And by big names, I literally mean big names. Hyphenated heroes Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all failed to make the list, raising suspicions of a letters-on-jerseys price hike, as did Jason Taumalolo and the returning Sam Kasiano.
Of all these players it’s the absence of angriest man alive Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, a man who would waltz into a NSW Origin jersey, in favour of Junior Bromwich and his fellow Roosters bookend Sam Moa that smells a bit on the suss side. The rumour doing the rounds is that coach Kearney was unhappy with how JWH behaved in the lead-up to the latter stages of the World Cup, and that his exclusion is part of a punishment plan for the big marn.
If this is indeed the case it’s a sad state of affairs, but perhaps the NZRL should look at other people to remove from the match.
Namely, Stephen Kearney.
Yes, as likeable and stylish a chap as Kearney comes across as being, I’m afraid that the goodwill from his triumphant win in the 2008 World Cup has just about hit ‘E’ following his sorry stint at the Eels and 2013 Cup final capitulation.
While the blooding of young players for the future and choosing of blokes from reggies is all well and good, the exclusion of a star player for reasons undisclosed is pretty poor.
It has been a long, long time since New Zealand has won a mid-season Test, and throwing an inexperienced team to the ravenous Roos without one of the game’s form players seems like setting them up to fail.
If Kearney and Waerea-Hargreaves haven’t been able to sort out their differences since last November, it reflects poorly on the whole New Zealand administration, and one must question the head coach’s man management.
The one good thing New Zealand has going for them is the relative youth of their squad, and at 25 years old, Waerea-Hargreaves should be one of the blokes enjoying leading the side around come the next World Cup in 2017.
As for Kearney? Hopefully sitting back in a nice comfy chair somewhere, enjoying his limited edition 2008 Cup DVD.
Muzza
Guest
OKAY all you haters... bet that game wasn't what you all expected... we haven't led at half time in how long???...... That game was AWESOME!! And with a couple of tweaks those young guys in that team that you had all written off will hold out and take the win next time! Shame on all of you, and guess what... it was Kearney who did it, he selected them and he didn't select anyone with an ego or crap attitude. Look how much faith you lot had!
Stu
Guest
The guy has to go he's a bum. I don't know alot about footy but even I know hargraves should be the selected. Didnt he make a huge mess of parramatta ??
J.R
Guest
Kearney is a better fit as an asst coach, at best, than a head coach. He takes the credit for the 4 Nations and World Cup championship wins but we all know it was the mastermind of super coach Wayne Bennett who is most deserving of those achievements. The selectors are out of touch and seem to have no idea. Too many excuses and no results. Since Bennetts departure Kearney and the selectors have continued to harp on about rebuilding to the future..that excuse expired after the first year Bennett left, yet they continue to use it. The Kiwis, like the Warriors, need to bring in board members, selectors/scouts and coaches who have experience and thrived in a winning culture. You can't have faith in a front office group and coaching staff who themselves have never tasted the glory of success of numerous Grand final, World Cup, 4 Nations and one off test wins. It snow balls to a point where players and the organisation think/believe its ok to settle for mediocre and that it's ok to lose. I admire and respect Australians for their heart and mentality of winning is the only option. Kiwis tend to falter at the first sign of trouble and some overrated so called superstars go M.I.A at these crucial moments and hope someone else steps up. Australians fight to the end regardless if they're down by 30 or up by 30, they're relentless and when down their superstars step up to fight. Until the coaching staff and front office is cleared out at both the Warriors and Kiwis and replaced with winners who have won and know how to win then the losses and mediocre selections will continue.
Muzza
Guest
He has created more credibility making this decision. Sorry to break it to you but we haven't won a test match since 1998. Yet you still want all of the same players that have proven they cant beat the Aussies to go and keep losing to them??? I think its exciting to have all of these new young guys out there. The aim is the World cup- the test matches are important stepping stones but again the aim is the world cup- those that are supposedly "the best" now, wont be the ones that are the best when the next world cup comes around, but the ones Kearney has selected more than likely WILL be. I think Kearney has shown some guts and a hell of a lot of vision to do what he has done this time around. Its going to be AWESOME! I cant wait and I hope they cause the biggest upset the League world has ever seen!! GO the KIWI's!!
rugby chick
Guest
He's not having a hissy fit. Kearney stated many times he never had any intention in selecting SBW as he is going back to Rugby Union next year,so SBW decided to use the time for a belated honeymoon with his new wife who he got married to last August,just before the grand final .
Clueless
Guest
WTF is that got to do with them being avg journos. I wasn't questioning their playing creds but their journalistic ones try reading it again S - L - O - W - E - R
Cedric
Guest
Lowe's out of touch mate. The game has not changed much in the last 20 years! It appears the NZRL and their national coach r in disneyland. They r gone burgers. If they're , not we need help. After living in Oz 4 20 years, I find the support and anything else, including funny tv shows, very little help towards league in NZ. I have a very strong Islay for friday night! Can someone help me!!!
dazlin
Guest
Mr Kearney, You can't build a team for the future without experience. If your mantra is "looking towards the future" perhaps you should do the right thing and step down. A 24% win rate with Parramatta, and a 57% win rate with the kiwis. When you consider that 75% of those NZ wins were against sub standard opposition, it's not good enough for a coach at any level. But lets not forget 2008 world cup victory, and a big thanks to Wayne Bennett for coming up with the goods. The NZRL needs a reality check. Tim Sheens....are you there???
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
Here's a conspiracy theory for you. The word is SBW wasn't prepared to play. So is it possible he was just one of a bunch who told Kearney the same thing? Maybe a group of them have no faith in his coaching and don't want a bar of him.
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
Give me a break, Lowe's an old man, he's out of touch with today's game and his time is well and truly gone. It was gone a long time ago.
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
The SBW thing is interesting. When he did his flip-flop after the World Cup side was selected he said he realised his heart was with his bros in the team, how much it meant to play for his country and it had dawned on him that he would always regret it if he turned down the chance to be in the squad. So poor old Tohu gets kicked out and SBW gets his way. Now a few months later SBW is having a hissy fit so opts out and leaves his bros (the ones he apparently loves so much) to go to the inevitable slaughter without him. Nice one, Sonny. It was always about you and it will always be about you.
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
Well he would be two-faced if he didn't pick JWH for his attitude because in his own playing days Kearney was as filthy as they get. Have to admit he was usually pretty subtle but he was a master at dodgy work with the hand in a guy's face and putting the elbow where it shouldn't go. Talented player but consistently sly and dirty when he thought he could get away with it. (Incidentally, I'm a Kiwi, so this isn't a case of being biased against him.)
Jeremy
Guest
Building for the future is a joke, pick the best players you have available and aim to win every test for New Zealand fans! Stephen Kearney is rubbish, how can you be right if the rest of the rugby league world disagree with your selections?
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
They're a couple of former players who still have mates in the camp and don't want to rock the boat. They should carry pom-poms on the show because they're no more than a cheer squad. Those guys were never going to ask hard questions. They don't want to be unpopular with their buds. Which obviously means they shouldn't be within 10 miles of a show like this. It's disgraceful.
Bruiser Bayliss
Guest
Australia by 40+? Are you serious? I'm thinking closer to 80. Why didn't Kearney just go the whole hog and pick the entire Warriors reserve grade outfit? This is like a general keeping his seasoned troops in reserve and sending a bunch of untrained recruits over the top into machine-gun alley. This is as strange as selections get and I'm seriously wondering if the man is unwell..
Muzza
Guest
JWH has an ugly attitude so we are better off without him there, Im happy to see they have left out those that have had their dash and couldn't break the roos, these young fresh players have the element of surprise and a lot of youthful experience to go with the skills they clearly have to be playing professional league in the first place, with the rule changes making the game so much faster they could end up having the upper hand. At any rate GO the KIWI's!!! Never thought I'd say that again after the ridiculous debacle with ole SBW at the World Cup... but these changes are refreshing!!!
Cedric
Guest
When a coach sacks half his team and says he looking to the future something is very wrong in the camp. Sacks these guys after how many years of building a team now to start again, to me, an ex coach, that's a sign of failure. It maybe personal issues I think. And as for 40/20 your right the elephant in the room! Guttenbiel finds it very hard to say anything hard about a player, the show is a joke and that's unfortunate. They've had a few goes at league shows and failed everytime. Ropo with the big sentences, McIvor who glosses over major points cause he don't know the game, and now. I lived in Oz for twenty years, been home since 96 and found really there are not that many true league followers in NZ and that's a shame.
Muzz
Guest
Robo - If your reading this. Sign Proctor. Do it already : )
Ra
Guest
Yeah clueless, but they've played more top club rugby league than you n i put together
Clueless
Guest
Yep taumalolo will change allegiance. It's a shame coz he's a rep player all over. one of these kids who grows an extra leg on the bigger stage. It was Kearney mucking around that NZ lost Tamou.