Jason Taumalolo’s decision to quit the Kiwis and pledge his allegiance to Tonga shows there’s a serious cultural problem in the New Zealand setup, which could cost David Kidwell his job.
Since coming to the helm in 2016, Kidwell has just one win from six outings – and it could get worse at the Rugby League World Cup.
The Kiwis have been drawn in the group of death, alongside Samoa, Scotland and Tonga, which could see them struggle to reach the final stages of the tournament. Tonga boast a strong team, Samoa only narrowly lost to New Zealand in their last encounter, while Scotland drew with them in last year’s Four Nations.
Not helping is the fact that in addition to Taumalolo, big names such as Tohu Harris, Kieran Foran, Issac Luke, Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor are also missing.
It is symptomatic of what Kidwell is doing wrong, while other coaches such as Australia’s Mal Meninga and Tonga’s Kristian Woolf are succeeding.
Culture.
The word has come up recently in relation to Des Hasler’s stint at the Bulldogs, with the club opting to restore ‘culture’ to help them return to the top through appointing Dean Pay.
New Zealand face the exact same problem. Yes, Kidwell knows what it means to represent the nation at the highest level, but they need someone the playing group want to work for.
Kidwell has been overcoaching, something you shouldn’t be doing at an elite level. His team don’t need someone to teach them a completely new style of rugby league, they need someone who is able to effectively manage each player’s skills and guide them to deliver results.
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For that reason, the Kiwis need to start again, rebuilding the reputation that saw them win the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and hold global No.1 status in 2014 following their Four Nations victory.
New Zealand need a clean slate – and the man to lead that fresh start should be Nathan Cayless.
Cayless led his nation to victory at the 2008 tournament and the 39-Test veteran has dived into the coaching world as clipboard holder of the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup.
He knows the culture, he understands how to coach, but he’ll take a back seat and let the playing group do what they do best.
In a role similar to Wayne Bennett’s in 2008, the Kiwis need a coaching advisor that can help guide Cayless. The man to do that is Brad Arthur, someone who Cayless knows all too well as a member of the Parramatta coaching staff.
Arthur has turned the Parramatta Eels around in recent years, changing them from one of the competition’s cellar dwellers into a top-four force.
Another option is former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry. Henry has an 85.4 per cent winning record from 103 games and is someone the playing group respect and would want to play for.
Other options include Tim Sheens – a four-time premiership winner with the Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers, who kickstarted the Kangaroos’ current dynasty and recently helped Hull KR return to the Super League.
Daryl Powell is another choice, with the England-based coach turning Castleford Tigers from a village club on the brink of relegation to a championship side that is now the envy of the Super League.
Something needs to change or else New Zealand rugby league could crumble into irrelevancy.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Is that a reply to my comment?
Aem
Guest
....Nathan... Cayless? What is with this nationalistic rubbish? Why does it have to be a New Zealander in the head coach role? Pick the best coach. If that's an Aussie, pick the Aussie. Garth Brennan is on the coaching staff already as an assistant and has a spectacular resume (pretty much him + Demetriou as the best coaching resume's without NRL opportunities) - much better (and longer) than Cayless. I'd rather see him take the role. Or else... speaking of Demetriou - everything that guy touches turns to gold. But if you're that desperate for a Kiwi it's going to be out of reserves/assistants/20s coaches... so at least pick the one with the best resume - that's probably Ricky Henry, not Cayless.
nerval
Guest
Ineligible to play for the All Blacks while at Toulon. You know that don't you? Picked for the All Blacks at the first available opportunity.
Terry Tavita
Guest
i don't know why kiwis keeping connecting taumalolo's choice to play for tonga with those two white players dangling with drugs..,taumalolo has already stated his reasons because he loves his tongan heritage..or are these kiwis and their media scribes trying to sully taumalolo's choice by trying to connect him with those 2 druggies?
Jacko
Guest
Spot on ken...Maybe its the Tongans who have the culture problem as its Tongans doing the dirty on their respective coaches with these last minute withdrawals from the Aus and NZ sides
Jacko
Guest
How does a sport have 2 pinnicles? playing for your country should be the pinnicle of the sport
Jacko
Guest
Walked in????So 2 years at Toulon and Counties and 1 year at the Crusaders before a test is "Just walking in? i guess all players just walk in to the ABz eh?
John
Guest
That would be the opposite to the article's assertion that they are over coached.
DJ
Guest
The only issue I have with Taumalolo is his lack of professionalism. We all have to work with and for people we may not like but we can still be courteous and respectful. To have made a decision to defect without consulting with the coach because he disagreed with the coach's prerogative to instil discipline in a code notorious for bohemian and hedonistic behaviour is infantile. We may disagree with David Kidwell but we have to accept and respect his authority as the coach. I'm a big fan of the Tongan and Samoan sides who play with passion, pride and flair but Taumalolo may have jeopardised the opportunity to stamp his authority as a true legend of Kiwi Rugby League alongside Ruben Wiki, Jeremy Smith and Tawerau Nikau. Unfortunately he may be remembered as the player that defected just as Bromwich and Proctor are infamously linked to the cocaine scandal. Thanks for the memories Jason. Kia Kaha!
Fred
Guest
Ken then how did SBW walk into the All Blacks side?
Jeffrey
Guest
Emice, He played for Tonga in the last WC because he wasn't picked for the Kiwis for that tournamnet. He can play for both teams obviously but he appears to be a guy with very little integrity. Does all the promotion work for the WC with a Kiwi jersey on, attends their training camps and then leaves the coach hanging with a last minute withdrawal. If he really had his heart set on representing Tonga, he would have informed Kidwell a couple of months ago rather than leaving it until two days before the team is announced. Even then, he didn't have the decency to inform the coach, he went through the media. I hope he is never allowed to represent NZ again.
Ken
Guest
BLame the fact AUstralia and NZ pay players thousands of dollars per test , Samoans played for nothing last year and had to pay theirs own flights from Europe just like Tonga and you wonder why islands island players choose tier 1 nations its loyalty based on a cheque book ,Semi Radradra classic case , fijiian but you guys offerd him $30,000 per test , to feed his family he choose the smart option , don’t claim betrayal when nrl money forces players to abandon their island loyalty
Ken
Guest
ONLY our 2nd best players play league in NZ the best play union.
Ken
Guest
So Fifita choosing Tonga Over Australa , earning $35 a day over $40,000 for the tournament means the Australian team also has a cultural issue I feel you go by your reasoning , which is just clickbait .
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Nobody has yet given a reason why a player, if eligible, should not play for more than one nation.
Emcie
Roar Guru
he played for Tonga last world cup. He's played 3 tests for tonga and 5 for NZ so it's not like he's ditching a lifetime of playing for NZ for some random country
Sylvester
Guest
I don't begrudge his passion in playing for Tonga but...he didn't play for Tonga earlier in the year - and has been part of NZ WC promo this year.
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
the only logic is, people are different and hold on to their cultural heritage with varying degrees of gusto..taumalolo and fifita have already said (several times) they want to play for tonga because of their tongan families and tongan heritage, what more do you want?
Jeffrey
Guest
Born in Auckland and it's clear that his first choice in NZ. He's doing this just to get back at the coach. By your logic, a guy like Monty Panesar should be playing for India and not England since he is of Indian origin. Ridiculous.
Suechi
Guest
There are a lot of "kiwis' whose heritage links back to Samoa or Tonga. I think it is great for Tonga to gain Taumalolo and Fifita, but I am getting tired of players moving across countries like walking across the street.