Graham Lowe: NZRL needs coaching on how to prepare for a test

COMMENT

The NZRL handed Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson a poisoned chalice for Friday night's Anzac test against Australia.

And his own club, the Warriors, didn't help by ensuring the test preparations were overshadowed by the Ali Lauitiiti affair.

I can't recall a test team being subject to so much uncertainty, change, and negative comment as that which went down 37-10 to Australia.

It will be interesting to watch, as events unfold, just how much of a hand Anderson himself had in the Warriors controversy, which would certainly have been a distraction for both coach and players.

The drama leading up to Friday night's test match was always going to have an effect on the Kiwis' chances - even blind Freddy could see that.

As good a coach as Daniel Anderson is, he was in a no-win situation and on a hiding to nothing.

To avoid similar disruptions, I think the NZRL needs to look carefully to see what must be done to ensure there is a smoother ride going into the next test match.

The most crucial issue is that of selection and the criteria that are given to the selectors. At the least, the selectors should start with a list of players who are definitely eligible, available and keen for selection.

The side should be named two weeks before the match so everyone knows where they stand.

Sure, some will argue the selected players could face extra pressure in their club games the week before the test and maybe risk being targeted and injured, but to me, it is still a better option.

It is also important that the motivation process of the players should be started by the selectors and coach at the beginning of the season.

Very little coaching is required for a test match. Little can be achieved in such a short time together, and the players all come from very well-coached clubs. It is a matter of coming up with a simple game-plan that allows your player strengths to be utilised - after that it is all motivation and ensuring the players are mentally at their peak for the game of their lives.

This raises another problem for Daniel Anderson in coaching both the Warriors and the Kiwis. Prior to the test week, as a working NRL coach he is not in a position to start getting into his prospective test players' heads. Other clubs would be reluctant to co-operate with him - and you can't blame them - whereas someone independent would have no problem at all.

New Zealand's selection problems are unique to New Zealand and always have been. But I do not believe enough has been done to make the process as efficient as it could be.

There are some pretty big decisions for Sel Pearson and his NZRL board to consider when they look towards the tri-series tournament with Australia and Great Britain at the end of the year. I only hope they are working overtime right now to give New Zealand a better chance of success.

As they always do, the Kiwis battled hard against Australia on Friday night, but never looked comfortable. There was something missing in this game and it is hard to put your finger on it. But one thing is for certain, New Zealand is lacking playmakers.

Australia's three little men, halfback Craig Gower, hooker Danny Buderus and captain and five-eighth Darren Lockyer, skilfully dismantled the Kiwis, and showed you can't go into a game at this level without plenty of skill in those three positions.

The draw and pass game combined with good tactical kicking worked well against the Kiwis, who once again tried to run over the top of the world champions.

The Australian team is going through a rebuilding phase but it certainly does not look any weaker than in years gone by.

Darren Lockyer reminds me of the great Wally Lewis and is sure to give the Kiwis plenty of problems on the international stage over the next five years or so.

It is a major concern that we do not seem to have closed the gap on Australia even though we have more players playing professional rugby league than at any other time.

This will be a very tough week for Anderson. He has limited time to put together the team spirit that will be needed to dig the Warriors out of the big mess they are in, and come up with a winning formula to get two points against the Storm on Saturday.

The test will be in the back of his mind. He will going through a certain amount of self-doubt, and I know what that feels like.

Mick Watson and Anderson will need to use the good cop, bad cop, routine because no matter how much the club tries to put a positive spin on last week's turmoil, the players will have been receiving many conflicting opinions from their friends and families.

Despite Ali's departure there is still an enormous range of talent in the club and if the right mindset is achieved the Warriors can still be a threat. But time is running out.

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New Zealand league fans were dealt another poor hand on Friday night listening to the comments and the amateurish analysis of the match on Sky Television.

This inept display was really shown up by the analytical expertise of Australia's Channel 9 coverage on Prime TV, which was screened later.

Sky commentator Jason Costigan is a competent caller, but he is let down by his team of Peter Ropati, Steve McIvor and Darryl Halligan, who do not appear to give the viewers any credible insights into what is happening on the field.