Rugby League: Kiwis unveil rigorous selection process

By PETER JESSUP


The members of a new Kiwis selection panel will each provide coach Daniel Anderson with two teams a week from now until test places are decided for the game against Australia at Albany in October and the following Tri-Nations series.

The idea is to cross-reference, give a gauge of player performance in terms of consistency and to throw up a bolter if there is one out there.

The selection panel changed following the withdrawal of Tony Kemp as assistant coach as he focuses on the Warriors. His Warriors assistant, Tony Iro, comes on as does NRL judiciary panel member Darrell Williams and Gary Mercer in England. Brent Todd is the sole survivor.

New Zealand Rugby League board member Keith Pitman is convener, with Anderson finding his input helpful in terms of budget advice, player availability and other issues.

There are many English-based players in contention, including former Kiwis Joe Vagana, Logan Swann, Lesley Vainikolo, Motu Tony, Ali Lauitiiti and Robbie Paul. Tevita Vaikona has been selected three times and withdrawn each time through injury so has to be a chance, and former Warriors wing Shontayne Hape has been playing well.

Anderson's assistant is to be named next week. Negotiations are continuing as to which Warriors support staff might be available for the tour because the club will have started pre-season training well before the Tri-Nations final on November 27. John Ackland has to be a chance, if released.

A Kiwis train-on squad will be named on September 12, then expanded as the NRL playoffs progress. On October 5 a team will be named to play Australia at Albany but with the Super League grand final to be played that night, there is likely to be the usual wrangling over availability of English club players.

The Tri-Nations squad of 24 will be named the day after the Albany test, and New Zealand and Australia-based players fly out that day.

The Kiwis manager, Pat Carthy, is in England next week to check venues, accommodation, training facilities and to meet the UK-based players and let them know the selection criteria and process. The side will be based just out of Leeds, with Anderson insisting on gym and sports facilities similar to those at the North Shore's Millennium Institute, where they trained before beating the Kangaroos last October.

Anderson said he was happy with the transparent selection process. Certainly no one will be able to accuse him of bias against players. The selection process would be thought-provoking, with different ideas thrown up, he said.

Meantime, it's not exactly thumb-twiddling but like Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin who had to await the Olympics run, Anderson is under-employed. He still believed there was no bar to one person holding both the Kiwis and Warriors jobs.

"I thought it was irrelevant before [when he was appointed last year] but I do admit I'm hungry, excited and fresh."

He was watching the NRL with enthusiasm and working up strategies. "I'm watching it and thinking creatively. I'm getting a thirst to get back coaching again."

He would be interested in a coaching job in the Australian premiership again should that arise and has been helping the prospective Wellington franchise with its bid and the NRL in terms of the league's queries about New Zealand's ability to run two teams, player development and so on.

"I'm not bored but I'm not doing enough for my liking," he said, but the time off for self-evaluation had also been productive.

Meanwhile, negotiations are progressing for an Anzac side to play a Cumbria selection during the Tri-Nations and both Anderson and Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett have agreed it should happen, not least because otherwise they will have players sitting around.

The Kiwis play their second game of the series on October 23 in London. Australia play Great Britain the following Saturday and the Kiwis have a bye.

The game in Cumbria - with Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow all suggested as venues - is to be played on October 27, allowing the Australians to use their non-starters and the Kiwis to freshen any players they might want to back up or to test those coming back from injury.

Programme

Sept 12: Kiwis train-on squad named, then added to as NRL finals progress.

Oct 5: Team named to play Australia at Albany.

Oct 16: Kiwis v Kangaroos at North Harbour Stadium.

Oct 17: Full Tri-Nations squad of 24 named, NZ and Australian-based players fly to London, Super League players join the squad in Leeds.

Oct 23: Kiwis v Kangaroos in London.

Oct 27: Anzacs v Cumbria selection.

Oct 30: Kangaroos v Great Britain

Nov 6: Kiwis v Great Britain

Nov 13: Kangaroos v Great Britain

Nov 20: Kiwis v Great Britain

Nov 27: Tri-Nations grand final.