KEY POINTS:
Behavioural experts believe first impressions are formed even within three seconds.
An individual's demeanour, mannerisms and body language and even grooming and accessories are scrutinised and an opinion formed.
In the case of Gary Kemble, it took 80 minutes.
That opening test against Australia in Wellington, when the Kiwis were humbled 58-0 three weeks ago, was most people's introduction to the new Kiwis coach.
It's not an impression he's particularly fond of and he has battled hard over the past three weeks to try to change it.
While last weekend's spirited effort against Great Britain was a significant improvement, it still hasn't stopped some from questioning Kemble's ability to lead the Kiwis to success at next year's World Cup. A number of players have also formed their opinions but, for their own World Cup aspirations, they need to buy into what he is trying to do.
The NZRL will stick with the embattled coach at least until the end of the present tour, which they have to do. There is nothing to be gained in changing things now.
Afterwards Kemble, along with assistant James Leuluai and Phil Prescott, will be reviewed.
"We fully support Gary," NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers said on the eve of this morning's second test with Great Britain. "He's only two tests in. Nothing has changed for us.
"His contract is through to the World Cup. Like everything, we will conduct a review after this tournament is finished and we will do it objectively and rationally and wouldn't want to speculate on anything in the future."
The final statement is perhaps the most significant and only muddies the water. Few welcome reviews. You need only cast your mind back to when one was done of the Warriors by director of football John Hart after their disastrous 2005 season. The end result: Tony Kemp was sacked.
A few eyebrows were raised last week with news Paul Bergman had returned to New Zealand following the All Golds game.
Bergman was assistant to Wayne Bennett for that celebration match and was due to remain with the Kiwis for the remainder of the tour to provide video analysis. To complicate matters, he also applied for the Kiwis job when Kemble was appointed.
"They wanted to keep things fairly close, Gary and his team," Bergman said from New Zealand. "I didn't want to intrude. What made it tough, I guess, was that I was a competitor and I didn't want them to be uncomfortable. There was no issue."
Maybe not, but either way Bergman will not be attached to the results.
Kemble has tried to detach himself from the criticism and talk surrounding his future.
He has thrown himself into turning things around and says he takes no notice of what people are saying.
"That's what coaching is all about," he says. "You're going to be under the spotlight and I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't know what I was getting myself into. It's been tougher for the family back home than me.
"I'm doing everything I can and I think we're doing a great job with the young team we have."
While there are plenty of instances when people have changed their opinion of others, and Kemble will hope he's one of them, research has shown that first impressions tend to last. For that reason, Kemble has a significant task to hold onto his job.
