Rugby League: Test flop review by NZRL

By PETER JESSUP

The New Zealand Rugby League will today review the 0-52 Anzac test drubbing, a bleak night few Kiwis would want to relive.

Not having to live through that experience again is what today's board meeting is about, with the league examining its pre-test procedures, coaching appointment and selection processes as it looks to the World Cup in October-November.

It is already clear that coach Frank Endacott's job is safe, despite calls from two board members, in particular, for him to be sacked. It is also unlikely that the NZRL will veer from the management team it has in place.

Endacott is on contract through to the end of the cup, so dismissal would be costly - and pointless - given the short lead-in time for anyone else and the lack of a serious contender for his position.

The league will appoint former Northcote, Super League tri-series and world nines coach Graeme Norton as assistant to Endacott, with the aim that he goes on to the top job.

Endacott was relaxed about that yesterday, confirming he had suggested that approach to the board.

He nominated three coaches he believed were in the frame to pick up after him: Norton, Canterbury's Gerard Stokes and Junior Kiwi coach Gary Kemble, not in any order. "All of them would get my total support."

Endacott admits that it is nice to be winning at Wigan, most recently 50-18 over Hull in a satisfying reversal of the outcome of the Challenge Cup quarterfinal.

Wigan are now first-equal with St Helens, with eight wins from nine in the Euro Super League.

"They're going real good at the moment and it's nice after a game [the test] I'd rather forget," Endacott said.

He described the test result as a one-off, and the attitude of board members who wanted his neck as an over-reaction.

"It was something that was quite predictable, in hindsight. The build-up time was ridiculous." He remained "absolutely positive" about the World Cup and hoped today's meeting would produce support from the board.

"Everyone seems to think my job's on the line. I don't think it's even in question, to be honest. If you sacked every coach who lost a game, there'd be no one coaching and no one playing.

"With the World Cup so close, I'd hope everyone would be pulling in the same direction."

Endacott and team manager Gary Cooksley have prepared a build-up plan. There will be no matches in advance; the coach is sure early pool games against Lebanon, the Cook Islands and Wales will be sufficient to work up his combinations.

He will name a train-on squad towards the close of the NRL season at the end of July.

The NZRL is saying little about the review process, but will consider reports from the coach, Cooksley and chief executive Gary Allcock, including player comment.

The board will take some days to digest the detail and does not expect to make any announcement today.

There was support, in varying levels, and plenty of sympathy for Endacott's position yesterday from former Kiwi coaches.

Graham Lowe (1983-86), Tank Gordon (1986-89) and Bob Bailey (1990-91) agreed that Endacott deserved behind-doors and public backing from the board; that asking players about the coach was counter-productive and unprofessional; and that Endacott should take the Kiwis to the World Cup.