League: Kearney in search of redemption

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney's heaviest defeat in 10 tests (two wins, one draw, seven losses) against the Kangaroos raises questions whether the current side, without 14 players through injury or nationality switches, can match England and Australia in the Four Nations starting next weekend.

The 42-6 rout, where five Kiwis debuted, exposed a vulnerability in Kearney's charges. Previously they suffered hefty losses to Australia - think 30-6 in World Cup pool play before they won the final in 2008 and 38-10 in the 2009 Anzac test - but this was the most galling. Still, that 2008 resurgence proves the side is capable of a form reversal in a short period.

Last weekend had them missing more tackles (63 vs 31), initiating less offloads (13 vs 24), making more errors (22 vs 13) and completing less sets (43 per cent vs 72 per cent) than their opposition.

Kearney, who arrived in Britain on Friday, is working on a solution: "It was up there in terms of disappointing performances, a hollow defeat given the high expectations we have these days. From the start we were bouncing off tackles which was probably a by-product of guys not playing in a while. It's not an excuse, but the guys weren't match-ready.

"A couple of players were out of position; we had five new guys coming in and we turned the footy over too much. Against Australia we came up against four key players in Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. They're a combination who have spent the best part of six years in Queensland's winning State of Origin unit. It's easier for them coming straight into camp."

Kearney has also been combining twin jobs as an NRL coach with Parramatta and New Zealand coach for the first time.

"It was easier doing the Kiwis job when I was an assistant with Melbourne. It gave me more time to prep but it's not overwhelming; it hasn't hindered what I'm trying to do."

Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe says the secret to reviving the side is not to look back.

"The scoreline spoke clearly of the problem; they need to focus on a solution. When you get flogged like that, you need a book to find the reasons why but that's for the stats men. It's no good reflecting or running the risk of over-coaching. The team just needs an urgent dose of the truth as to how hard the Four Nations will be. It's probably not complacency but maybe too much familiarity, given Stephen has been in charge for a while.

"However, anyone saying some Kiwis might be spent after the NRL season is a myth. Any player presented with a New Zealand jersey should be in the right frame of mind.

"Kevin Locke is the key, if you'll pardon the pun. He's as good an attacking player as Australia have in his current form. They've got to create opportunities for him to attack. Benji Marshall is another but it depends what's going on around him as to what he can create."

Kearney is also keen to use Locke more.

"He showed what an asset he can be [in the Newcastle test]. He got involved and would have seen more action had it not been an arm wrestle where we lacked decent field position. We need the forwards to hit up harder to create space for Benji, Kevin and Kieran Foran."

Former Kiwis captain Hugh McGahan puts the onus on Marshall to offer more direction: "Our experienced guys didn't stand up. Benji had an ordinary game, whereas at least with Simon Mannering you know what you're going to get. Benji is the No 1 player in that team; they're relying heavily on him. Sometimes he is high risk but when it falls into place it's hard to stop.

"They've got up for the big games before; it's not like members of the current crop don't know how to do it. I'm fairly confident it was a one-off game; a nothing game after many had had a few weeks off [post-NRL]. However, lose by the same margin to Australia again in the UK this week and we're in trouble.

"Locke in his first test was the best player for New Zealand but he was let down by so much dropped ball from experienced players and a stupid cheap shot from [Russell] Packer which you can't put down to inexperience."