KEY POINTS:
The Kiwis played with pride to restore some credibility to their tour of Great Britain yesterday, but the 28-22 defeat and three-nil series loss is sure to end the careers of some from management through the coaching staff to players.
Eleven months out from the World Cup, the
tour that was supposed to be a build-up has turned into a tear-down.
The New Zealand Rugby League cannot possibly believe it is in a good position to push on into that contest with momentum and therefore change has to come.
There is a despondency among ex-Kiwis, club administrators and supporters here after the embarrassing 58-0 loss to Australia at Wellington and the 44-0 defeat by the Lions at Hull.
Matches supposed to be a celebration of 100 years of international rugby league have turned into nightmares, the past four weeks the worst month in the Kiwis' history. There is also a desperation to ensure this doesn't happen again and that will lead to a deep inquiry into every aspect of the preparation.
When captain Roy Asotasi, who has been the Kiwis' only outstanding player, last week commented that coach Gary Kemble was not up with the play of top level coaching and coach and team needed time to gel, it was a damning indictment.
There is now just one test against Australia, in Sydney in May, before the Kiwis play the World Cup opener against the Kangaroos in October.
Kemble presents as an easy scapegoat. The difference in the coaching of the two sides could be measured by their efficiency in turning opportunity into points when in the red zone and in that the Lions showed the benefit of slick preparation in finishing set plays.
Those who selected Kemble must question their processes and the NZRL board needs to reconsider its approach.
Foremost, the rule about the coach having to live here should be dumped, as should the fulltime requirement and the resistance to using the coaching staff at the Warriors. There will be questions raised about the NZRL's finances after this disastrous month.
The league relies heavily on income from the test team.
Attendance at the All Golds game was poor. Although test crowds were solid, there is concern in league circles about the size of the tour party, spending and the threat of a bottom-line loss. There is also concern about the future marketability of the side, given the huge hidings on the pitch.
The NZRL board meets next month. Recent meetings have been lively as chairman Andrew Chalmers asserted authority, changed the league's rules and ejected dissenters. The buck stops with him.