Graham Lowe: Don't dream it's over

A week after one of the worst displays I can ever recall from a Kiwi test team, the fans that still have any faith in what is happening here are probably thinking about tomorrow's Warriors game against the Melbourne Storm.

But I'm sure there are many who, like me, cannot get the nightmare of last Friday out of their mind.

The pressure is on the New Zealand Rugby League more than at any time in the history of our game to show leadership, courage and a positive plan for the future to ensure there is no repeat of last Friday.

At present we don't seem to have learned anything from past encounters against Australia. In fact, I read where coach Daniel Anderson was reported to have said that if New Zealand were ever going to beat Australia, we would have to play above ourselves and the Aussies would have to be a bit off their game.

If that is what he believes, he should stand down as Kiwi coach.

But I do agree when he says you need to score every chance you get - a point I made last week.

I don't blame Anderson at all for the loss, but he has to accept some responsibility for the side he chose, which, in the view of many on both sides of the Tasman, was ponderous and totally unbalanced.

The players let him down badly, and although I have heard reports of determination in their eyes going back out after halftime down 30-0, after a performance like that, they don't deserve any sympathy.

The most important thing now is to figure out how to avoid a repeat.

I agree with those who say the Australians have an unfair advantage after coming off a State of Origin series, and I have said so in many columns here and in Australia over the past 10 years.

It is time we evened the playing field and had our own three-match Super Series while the Australians play their State of Origin.

All NRL clubs have to release their players if they are chosen by Queensland or New South Wales for Origin footy, and the same conditions should apply for New Zealand players in the NRL chosen for the Super Series.

Origin football is successful for many reasons, but one of the main ones is the fierce competition for an Australian jumper. Say what you like, we don't have enough of that spirit.

In my suggested Super Series played in New Zealand, I would have one team chosen by the current selectors and coached by Anderson and also given the first choice of players, the other team picked from players who missed out.

That team could be selected by an independent panel and coached by someone such as Graeme Norton, a passionate coach who achieved great success with the many club and rep sides he coached, and would be hell-bent on beating those chosen by Anderson and Co.

Such a match would provide real us-and-them mentality, intensity and passion to equal State of Origin. But most importantly it would provide the preparation similar to Australia's for Anderson to choose his test team from.

And the public would love it.

While we can't have state against state, we can have mate against mate.

And when you consider those players picked from the Warriors who were not chosen in Anderson's team, combining with others picked from the Bartercard Cup and other NRL teams, playing to prove their worthiness of a test jersey, you have a potential firecracker.

The NRL draw would need to be worked around to make this work, but clubs such as the Broncos have had to overcome this problem for years, and don't forget, everyone from the coaches down would have to lift to another level. Is that not what we want?

A battle-hardened test team chosen from this environment would capture the imagination of the New Zealand public, but more importantly, help provide a more competitive team for Anderson.

I can see the Warriors opposing such an idea because it can involve their own players getting stuck into one another in these tough games. But remember all Australian clubs face this issue unselfishly each year and handle it, and that is one of the main reasons why they are the best.

The NZRL also needs to sort out availability issues with British club players and if that job is too difficult for them, let someone else get it done.

If NZRL is to regain its credibility, something new like this needs to happen, and happen quickly.

Like most supporters of the game, I also think we have to return to a three-test series against Australia, but convincing the Australian public will not be easy.

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The sad recent passing of former Kiwi international forwards John Yates and Cliff Johnson has reminded many how good and tough those players of the 1950s era were.

I didn't really know Johnson, but he was one of the reasons I got involved with league as a kid in the 1950s.

My dad would take us to Carlaw Park and describe to us how great Johnson and other players of that era were, and it only followed that we all played league.

I knew Yates well, and when I first coached at Otahuhu in the early 1970s, I received plenty of encouragement and advice from the big man.

I was surprised the NZRL did not ask the Australian Rugby League for a minute's silence before kick-off on Friday night in memory of John.

These are the sort of things players respect and respond to.

If it was a former Australian player, you can be sure they would have received the recognition.

These men were typical of what our game stands for: strong, humble, competitive, skilful and feared by their opponents.

We could do with their type of qualities against Australia. They were admired throughout the league world and will be sadly missed.