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SYDNEY - Roy Asotasi feels vindicated after his role in Kiwis rugby league coach Gary Kemble's demise, and hopes to remain as captain at this year's World Cup.
As New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) officials prepared to fly to Brisbane to offer Wayne Bennett a coaching role, Asotasi
insisted his scathing public criticism of Kemble was for the good of the game in New Zealand.
"It was obviously a good result," Asotasi said today after a fortnight in the United States with his South Sydney club.
"I'm not the type to go out there and do a Willie Mason, but it's different when it's your country. You want to do the best for your country and expect the best results.
"If you're going to hold back, nothing will be done."
Kemble resigned on January 19 after Asotasi and fellow senior Kiwi David Kidwell told reporters the team felt Kemble wasn't up to the task at international level, five months after he succeeded Brian McClennan.
Asotasi said they fronted former NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers with their concerns during last year's disastrous tour of Britain and France, but felt they had to go public after Chalmers was sacked.
"It's just a good thing to know the NZRL is willing to listen.
"That was our only concern, to express what the players thought. We didn't expect anything out of it, we just wanted them to hear us," Asotasi said.
The NZRL had taken its time to approach Bennett, but officials were reportedly on their way to meet the Brisbane Broncos coach today or tomorrow.
Asotasi has consistently labelled Bennett his preferred choice.
"It'd be awesome, his name speaks for itself," he said of the former Queensland and Kangaroos coach who impressed the New Zealand players during his guest role with the All Golds last year.
"I'd definitely like to have him involved in some role with the Kiwis. You've also got (former Kiwis captain) Stephen Kearney who's interested."
Asotasi was confident the Kiwis would be a force at the World Cup, with the spirit McClennan developed in recent seasons when they won the 2005 Tri-Nations and lost narrowly to the Kangaroos in the 2006 final.
Retired duo Ruben Wiki and Stacey Jones could also be used in mentoring roles.
"Regardless of what happened, whether (Kemble) was on or not, we always manage to stick together," Asotasi said.
"That's what the Kiwi bond was in the last 3-4 years, we've been so successful because we all stuck together."
Despite NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden hinting Asotasi could face disciplinary action for his comments, the man rated one of the world's premier forwards said he wanted to retain the captaincy.
"Definitely, it's always a privilege to captain your country. A lot of people would love to be in that position."
Kidwell, who is trying to shake off knee tendinitis in time for the NRL opener in March, also endorsed the Bennett/Kearney coaching union today.
"It hasn't been finalised but we're feeling a little bit more confident. Speaking to all the other boys they're a bit more upbeat," Kidwell said.
Meanwhile, Asotasi said he met McClennan last week in Florida when Souths played McClennan's Leeds.
Despite McClennan being quoted as saying he would never work for the NZRL again, Asotasi felt he may be persuaded to have a role in the future.
"He'll be interested but he's just too busy right now in his first year at Leeds, so that's all he's concentrating on."
- NZPA