Gary Kemble will coach through to the World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker
Gary Kemble will coach the Kiwis through the World Cup in Australia next year.
The New Zealand Rugby League yesterday discussed Kemble's position as part of a review of the Kiwis results against Australia, Great Britain and France.
"Gary has the board's support to continue as coach through
to the World Cup, as he was contracted to do when he was appointed," chairman Ray Haffenden said.
Kemble was appointed in mid-August, eight weeks before the test against Australia in Wellington on October 14 which was lost 58-0.
"The test against Australia and the following tour to Britain and France provided a difficult assignment for everyone involved," Kemble said.
"While results didn't go the way we hoped, I have always wanted to continue in the role. There's much work to be done and I'm confident the Kiwis will perform well in next year's Centenary test against Australia [May 9] and then in the World Cup."
There are likely to be mass player changes for 2008, injuries allowing. As many as eight of the starting line-up from the England tour are unlikely to make the May test if players unavailable to Kemble in 2007 are fit and performing in 2008.
It's also believed the board has discussed and is leaning towards shelving the "Gary Freeman" rule which requires the Kiwis coach to be resident in New Zealand and so resulted in Aussie-beating coaches Daniel Anderson and then Mike McClennan being dumped after accepting club jobs in Super League.
Should Kemble or any successor succeed he would get offers too good to refuse and probably go too so that would be a sensible move.
