League: 'Bluey' has to find a lot of answers for Kiwis

Brian McClennan (front left) doesn't believe in getting too down when things don't go right. Picture / Northern Advocate

Many league coaches can get out the pipe and slippers at this time of year. Not so Brian McClennan.

He still gets out the slippers though. It's a yarn about his Lions club captain, Steve Buckingham, the play-maker who has led the team to four Bartercard Cup titles.

It goes like this. Buckingham likes to wear slippers after his post-training shower. Up-and-coming NRL wing Patrick Ah Van, who is attached to Mt Albert, picked up on the habit and started padding around the Warriors in his slippers.

The move has spread and many Warriors now cruise around after training in their slippers.

Next comes McClennan's hearty laugh. You can take the Kiwi coach out of Mt Albert but it's still hard to take Mt Albert out of the Kiwi coach.

"I was so concentrated on the Bartercard Cup final last week, I couldn't think about the Kiwis at all," says McClennan, sipping a coffee at a cafe near Cornwall Park and jubilant after the Lions beat the Canterbury Bulls in the domestic final.

The Mt Albert tradition is to place their trophies on top of the pie warmer. Soon after the Bartercard Cup joined this upper crust, McClennan was turning his attention back to the Tri Nations which will take place in Australia and New Zealand over October and November.

The Kiwis go into the series as champions but the Kiwi coach's lot is never a simple one, although McClennan believes the growing status of the series and the Kiwis' 2005 win make it easier to deal with overseas clubs about player injuries and availability.

"The big thing is the players are standing up for themselves now," says McClennan.

Like most league coaches, McClennan preaches the mantra - in his case handed down from his coaching legend father, Mike - that the heart of a team wears the jerseys numbered 1, 7 and 9. These are often the problem areas for the Kiwis, especially if the top prospects are unavailable.

Australia, in contrast, can replace a Danny Buderus with Cameron Smith or Shaun Berrigan, or an Andrew Johns with Matt Orford or Craig Gower, even if no one is quite another Andrew Johns.

Kiwi veterans Stacey Jones and Nigel Vagana are sure to start off the series in the halves, and Brent Webb is a high-class fullback.

Hooker is the tricky position of the moment and demonstrates the dilemmas a Kiwi coach faces.

The Kiwis are hurt by the loss of injured Cowboys hooker David Faiumu. The Warriors' Nathan Fien is in serious doubt because of a back injury. This leaves the English-based high-jinking Motu Tony, maybe the most versatile man in league, as the best option for dummy half.

But Tony's club Hull finished second in the Super League. The earliest they can be eliminated from the play-offs is a week before the Kiwis' opening test against Australia at Mt Smart Stadium on October 14.

Even if Hull do drop out at that point, Tony will miss most of the lead-up to the first test. If he makes the Super League grand final, which is on the same weekend as the first Tri-Nations game, he would also be in doubt for the second Kiwis test against Australia in Melbourne a week later.

Warriors utility Lance Hohaia joined the Auckland-based Kiwi trainings this week to help cover for Fien, but has not officially joined the train-on squad.

The best remaining No 9 option is centre-cum-backrower Dene Halatau, while fellow Tiger Paul Whatuira is in major doubt because of a hamstring problem. McClennan could also go into the series waiting on Bradford's centre Shontayne Hape.

Such is life and enthusiasm is never in short supply when it comes to McClennan. "The main thing is never get too down when things don't go right," he says.

There have been highs and lows during McClennan's first year in charge of the test side - the Tri-Nations triumph and subsequent optimism was followed by a huge defeat in Brisbane and a dreadful loss with a second-rate side in a second-rate test in England.

"The Brisbane test hasn't knocked my confidence or the players' and the only thing the England game will do is make us more determined next time we meet," he says.

"The general consensus is this will be the most evenly contested Tri-Nations yet.

"The great news is that players have come through the season in good shape. By going to France, Stacey Jones has extended his career and he's had three months' rest because of a broken arm. And compared to last year, the Warriors seem to have a real spring in their step. They just seem real happy to me."

McClennan believes his organisational ability has improved, he's more of a dab hand at using the NRL computer analysis of players and wants to be smarter in media dealings after getting tangled in controversy prior to this year's Anzac drubbing in Brisbane.

"I'll try not to give open-ended answers," he says.

The answers the Kiwis need though are still open ended. Will Fien and Whatuira recover, will Tony make it back in time, will Sonny Bill Williams, Roy Asotasi and co emerge unscathed, when can Hape be included in the plans, are there unexpected spats with overseas clubs still to come?

Warriors dominate Kiwi squad

Train-on squad for the Kiwis and New Zealand A: Nathan Fien, Epalahame Lauaki, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Evarn Tuimavave, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Ruben Wiki (Warriors), Iosia Soliola, Sam Perrett (Roosters), Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua (Panthers), Nigel Vagana (Sharks), David Fa'alogo (Rabbitohs), Dene Halatau, Paul Whatuira, Rangi Chase (Tigers), Nathan Cayless, Krisnan Inu (Eels), Steve Matai (Manly).

Likely additions: Sonny Bill Williams, Roy Asotasi, Matt Utai, Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), David Kidwell, Adam Blair (Melbourne), Tame Tupou, Greg Eastwood (Broncos), Motu Tony (Hull), Shontayne Hape (Bradford), Stacey Jones (Catalans), David Solomona (Wakefield).

* Warriors utility Lance Hohaia is training with the squad as cover for Fien (back injury).

* Centre Paul Whatuira is extremely doubtful because of a hamstring injury. A decision on his participation will be made next week.

* Cowboys hooker David Faiumu (groin surgery) was not considered.

* Wing Jake Webster has remained on the field for Melbourne but is unavailable due to impending shoulder surgery.

* Original selections Patrick Ah Van, Louis Anderson (Warriors) and Setaimata Sa (Roosters) have withdrawn through injury.

Tri-nations schedule

October 14: NZ v Australia, Mt Smart Stadium.

Oct 21: Australia v NZ, Melbourne.

Oct 28: NZ v GB, Christchurch.

November 4: Australia v GB, Sydney.

Nov 11: NZ v GB, Wellington.

Nov 18: Australia v GB, Brisbane.

Nov 25: Final, Sydney.