RUGBY LEAGUE: Tamati intent on seeing NZ Maori take on world

HAMISH BIDWELL
Not to put any pressure on the bloke but the future of New Zealand Maori rugby league seems to be in Kevin Tamati's hands.
Tamati, along with cousin and fellow Kiwis great Howie, is in Sydney, where the pair are due to meet International Rugby League Board development officer Tas Baiteri in an effort to have the Maori team included in the next World Cup.
The team was a controversial addition to the last tournament in 2000, when then Aotearoa Maori Rugby League board member John Tamihere successfully argued that the Maori team were part of a distinct nation, as opposed to New Zealand, which was already represented by the Kiwis.
Whether that line will work again is unclear but the Tamatis are determined to do whatever it takes to see the Maori play at the 2008 World Cup.
"We're certainly trying to put together a strong case," Kevin Tamati said prior to his departure.
"The first way to do that is in the full test match against Fiji in Coffs Harbour on Thursday and then in the Orara International Sevens on the weekend. Howie and I have also set up a meeting with Tas to ask why we haven't been included.
"We don't know, so we have to get over there and find out. We have to put forward the best case possible and if we don't get inclusion at the first attempt, we'll take stock, try again and basically harass them until we're satisfied that they've given us a good enough reason for not being included."
Aside from his World Cup discussions, the Bridge Pa saffron grower has his hands full coaching the Maori team on this tour, and he's also due to meet with Manly Sea Eagles recruitment manager Noel Cleal to iron out details of the club's new partnership with Rugby League Hawke's Bay (RLHB).
"From my point of view, the pinnacle of what we're (RLHB) trying to achieve has to be finding a pathway for our young kids into the professional game with NRL clubs," he said.
"Manly have offered us a proposal that also includes coach education, all the way through to administration roles and physios and everything that's required to be successful."
On the playing side of things, the Maori team is likely to face stiff competition from Fiji in their one-off test, while the nations competing at the sevens include the Pacific Island countries, defending champions Lebanon, along with Malta, Japan and several Aboriginal and Australian country club teams.