Steve Deane: Let the Kiwis prepare, then we'll have a real test

Kearney's attitude suggests there simply isn't the will to try to force change. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis' impressive effort on Friday night showed it's time to start taking the Anzac test seriously.

A hangover from the Super League war, the fixture has always been a bit of an oddity on the league calendar. It has continued to exist - albeit with a three-year hiatus from 2001-2003 - purely for financial reasons.

The money it pumps into the NZRL coffers ($350,000 on Friday night and closer to $500,000 when a good crowd rolls up in Brisbane) has been nothing short of a lifesaver for the previously financially stricken NZRL.

It is for that reason alone that the game's governing body has continued to stump up a badly under-prepared and under-resourced national side for an annual flogging on Australian soil.

The humiliations have been numerous.

Friday night's improved effort suggests such humblings may be a thing of the past. The Kiwis can now call upon a good list of solid NRL-quality professionals.

They are no longer whipping boys, even under the toughest circumstances. But that doesn't mean they will ever win one of these contests while the chips are so heavily stacked against them.

Aside from a scoreline quite probably deflated by the rainy conditions, the most striking feature of Friday's test was the Kiwis' lack of strike. A side bristling with players who carve up the NRL every week barely even dented the Kangaroos' line until the final 15 minutes, once fatigue and complacency had set in.

Part of that is because it is test footy - linebreaks don't come easy. And partly it was down to the weather. But mainly it is the lack of an acceptable preparation time for what is meant to be a marquee international fixture.

The Kiwis simply lacked the cohesion, timing and polish to break down a very strong Kangaroos defence.

History speaks volumes. Over nine straight Anzac defeats, the Kiwis have failed to score more than 16 points, averaging 8.3 points a match. Friday's effort was standard fare. Eight points doesn't win matches.

Compare that with recent matches between the sides when the Kiwis have enjoyed a decent lead-in time in an extended campaign. Last year in London they drew 20-20. In the 2008 World Cup final the Kiwis racked up 34 points. In the victorious 2005 Tri-Nations campaign they chalked up scores of 38, 26 and 24 to win two out of three matches.

It's pretty clear that, given time to gel, the Kiwis pose a significant offensive threat.

One can only wonder how these mid-year tests would go if they were accorded the same status as State of Origin, when players sit out the previous round of NRL matches to allow a decent lead-in.

By contrast, many of the players in Friday's match played on the previous Sunday. They spent Monday and Tuesday in recovery, allowing just two full training sessions before the match.

Test footy's second-tier status is also reflected in the Australian players' match payments. For a State of Origin match they get A$12,500 ($15,530). For a test they get only A$6000.

If the NZRL is serious about winning these matches rather than just banking a few shekels, it must at least push for a mandatory player stand-down akin to State of Origin.

Strangely, coach Stephen Kearney doesn't favour the idea.

"Ideally you would, but our calendar is jam-packed as it is so where are you going to do that?" he said after Friday's defeat.

"More time to prepare would always be beneficial - if you want to find me some time that would be good."

It's an answer that misses the point. The calendar doesn't need to change. Test football simply needs to be accorded the same status as Origin.

Of course, that would see Kearney removed from his club duties with Melbourne Storm for a week. Perhaps he is reluctant to do that.

Playing the test in New Zealand now and again - a proposal to hold it in Christchurch next year is on the table - would help level the playing field, but otherwise doesn't make much sense. The match will never generate as much revenue in New Zealand, while the travel involved would create logistical difficulties and further affect preparation time.

With just four Warriors in the Kiwis, the remaining 30 players in Friday night's match were based in Australia - and 11 of them backed up in the St George-Manly match in Sydney 24 hours later.

The last thing those players need to contend with is international travel. Again, as Kearney is fond of saying, a stand-down rule would help to ease that problem.

This, of course, is just pissing in the breeze. Nothing will happen. Kearney's attitude suggests there simply isn't the will to try to force change.

So the Anzac test will remain what it is. A curiosity, a minor distraction, and an annual defeat for a Kiwis side that deserves better.