Graham Lowe: Kiwis must hit the Stoop with determination

Opinion

The strength of the Kiwis grasp on the World Champions title will be tested properly on Sunday morning at London's Stoop Stadium.

I don't go along with the argument that the grasp is weaker because so many of the Kiwis' experienced players are unavailable through injury.

In fact I think they have a better chance with so many eager newcomers to the squad. The Kiwis in 2009 have depth in every position!

The game will be won or lost on selection for both the Aussies and the Kiwis.

Australian coach Tim Sheens is spoilt for choice and his starting team will be tried and tested.

Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney will probably stick with his most experienced players.

But for both coaches this is a crucial game if they are to reach the final at Elland Road in Leeds on November 14.

The past couple of months in the NRL illustrated clearly that the best way to win games is to play the excitement machines and don't try to rein them in.

The strength in the Kiwis line-up is one they have traditionally been reluctant to use - and that's moving the ball.

So this has created a dilemma for Sheens and Kearney. During the NRL season, coaches have the luxury of forgiving a performance not up to scratch by one of their key star players. Usually the player is given another chance a week later and rewards the coach's faith.

This is different. The Four Nations Tournament is a dog-eat-dog competition and a Kiwi performance not up to expectations will call for ruthlessness in selections when the Kiwis play France in Toulouse next week.

Don't for a moment think France is a given. They could well be a big surprise. The same will go for Australia who line up against England in their second match.

So this brings a unique flavour to the next month of footy. It's not about who is consistently best during the season, but who is best at the moment.

And this time the Kiwis won't have the benefit of Wayne Bennett acting as an assistant to Kearney.

Little has been made of the effect Bennett's absence will have on the Kiwis' chances, but I personally think it is significant. It was obvious to me that during the Kiwis' victorious World Cup campaign Bennett played a huge role.

One of his strengths comes from years of whispering in the ears of players at the right moment.

It may be in the team's hotel lift or on the team bus. Doesn't matter where it is. He knows the moment. His direct approach was a strength for the Kiwis in their hour of need.

But all coaches are different and can only do it their own way. This is why I think having such a so-called inexperienced international squad will help Kearney become the coach the Kiwis need. Not only for this tournament, but through to the next World Cup.

In his regular job as one of the Storm assistant coaches he will have had the opportunity to closely observe how head coach Craig Bellamy does things. This is a good position for Kearney to be in.

But the Kiwis are a different kettle of fish to the Melbourne Storm and this tournament is not the NRL.

Personal bests are needed here and little time is given for delivery.

It is a perfect stage for Kiwi captain Benji Marshall. He has a considerable bag of tricks and they will all be needed. Explosive prop Fuifui Moimoi is another for whom this stage is set. He comes with a fearsome reputation and he needs to show everyone why.

Unlike the NRL which has 26 rounds to prove a team good enough to make the finals, this tournament will be over in what seems like five minutes.

Players simply do not have time to play their way into form. Each minute of each game is precious and needs to be packed with everything the Kiwis can deliver.

Australia are the favourites and rightly so. They showed this in the Anzac test earlier in the year.

But the Kiwis showed last year that with a little imagination and a lot of desperation reputations mean nothing.

On Wednesday this week a huge luncheon crowd at Ellerslie Event Centre was given a great insight to Brian "Bluey" McClennan's successful coaching formula.

Peter Leitch again produced an event that shone for league and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the nearly 500 people there when I say thank you again Mad Butcher.

Bluey is one of the few coaches I've met who has the ability to totally connect to his players and that is why they want to do well for him. His success at Leeds is not a surprise and I'd suggest their trophy cabinet will boast a lot of silverware while he is there.

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