Dialogue: Kiwis need playing field to beat the Kangaroos

By PETER JESSUP

When the New Zealand Rugby League board - or what is left of it - sits down to examine the international season, the members need to ask themselves how serious they are about giving our guys an even chance of winning tests.

The seeds for Friday night's loss to the Kangaroos at Wellington - the fourth in a row - were sown at the start of last season when the NZRL agreed to give away home advantage in return for a cash guarantee.

That game last season was played before a tiny audience at Stadium Australia, the league later having to fight for its payment.

The Paul brothers, Henry and Robbie, had stepped off the plane on the Tuesday before the Friday game. Jarrod McCracken, Willie Talau, Ruben Wiki, Logan Swann, Nathan Cayless, Quentin Pongia, Brian Jellick and Jason Lowrie had all been ruled out by injury, and Ali Lauiti'iti by suspension.

Tonie Carroll was asked to play, but the Australians told him he would not then be eligible for State of Origin.

Coach Frank Endacott hauled David Kidwell, from Parramatta's reserve grade, into the squad.

We lost 52-0.

As a result, some Kiwis took the field for the World Cup final in November believing they had no chance. And they didn't.

Compare that with 1999. It was Australia 20-14 in the Anzac test at Sydney, the Kiwis 24-22 at Ericsson in the Tri-Nations and, again at Ericsson, in the Tri-Nations final, Australia 22-20 when Wendell Sailor spoiled the party in the 78th minute.

Those Kiwis had the benefit of the end-of-season tour to England in 1998. They played together regularly and knew each other.

Before last Friday's test, the Pauls again stepped off the plane to introduce themselves to various team members. Carroll again plugged for Origin status, and injury and bad form ruled out a handful of first-choice players.

We had home ground advantage, but if there was a marketing plan it failed. Wellington is no place for a league test - the locals don't know the game and there was no concerted cheering. The Kiwi side deserved a full stadium.

The board has to question its approach to appointing a coach and everything from there on. Gary Freeman did not do a bad job considering the handicaps, and deserves support for the term of his contract to see whether he is up to it.

But you have to question how he can come from youth coaching to test football.

Endacott's team would have had a set play to score in that first eight minutes when the Aussies' chests were heaving.

You have to question what the Pauls now offer.

They don't know the NRL game that Freeman wants to play and the one we have to play to beat the Aussies. Instinctive back-flip passes are fine, but you need a go-forward platform first.

You have to question the four-forward bench, a thing of the 70s and 80s. The Kiwis no longer enjoy a size advantage, and the speed required late in a game.

The Junior Kiwis, the future of the game, got whacked 12-50. There is little on the programme in terms of their development.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson wants an annual three-test series with Australia and that is needed. Before that, the Kiwis should have a series of their own, Origin-like, preferably against England.

Meanwhile, here are some ideas on how to beat Australia next time:

* Body-cavity searches for biosecurity risks and an increase in the dirty-boot fine.

* Transport to their accommodation, in push-start Trabants.

* Accommodation provided by Parekura Horomia.

* Susie the South African maid serving tea.

* The game played on the Friday night after a Wednesday night State of Origin decider.

* A 103-year-old blind grandmother from the South Island as the ref, Rip van Winkle as one touchie, and an orang-utan the other. And Gerald Ryan as the video ref.