KEY POINTS:
Gary Kemble's resignation as Kiwis coach ends an impasse that would have killed New Zealand's World Cup chances and opens the door for the appointments of Wayne Bennett and Steve Kearney.
Kemble finally crumbled in the face of player pressure during what was intended as a patch-up trip to meet the disaffected players in Sydney. Instead of reconciliation came resignation as it became clear he had no support.
The beleaguered Kemble met the NZRL board late on Saturday and informed them of his decision to stand aside after five games and less than a year in charge. There was no attempt to talk him out of going.
Today the NZRL management will discuss the appointment of a new coaching selection committee. But already Bennett is frontrunner as Kemble's replacement.
Bennett had previously offered to help the Kiwis "in any way he can". The support he already has from senior players including captain Roy Asotasi, whose comments started Kemble's slide last Monday, means he is a shoo-in.
There is no chance Bluey McClennan will return. Kearney has said he eventually wants the top job but is still serving his apprenticeship. So it appears all three major teams at the World Cup in Australia in October will all be coached by Aussies - Bennett, England's Tony Smith and Kangaroo coach Ricky Stuart.
Kemble told the NZRL board the game's best interests were the key consideration in his decision to go. Both he and the NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden expressed disappointment at the way the issue was handled by Asotasi and his South Sydney teammate David Kidwell.
"I deliberately stayed away from making any comment about the situation during the week after what Roy and David had said.
"As a former Kiwi player I'd have to say it was very disappointing to see the way they handled the issue. They could have gone through other channels."
Kemble said he still believed he did have support from some Kiwis players despite Asotasi's remarks that all had no confidence in his ability as a coach.
"But what matters to me most is the Kiwi jersey and the game itself. I want to see the Kiwis having the best possible chance of winning the World Cup and, to help make that possible, I've decided it's in New Zealand rugby league's best interests that I should step aside."
Haffenden said the board was not happy with the behaviour of the players but indicated disciplinary action was unlikely.
"We just want to move on, we want to put this behind us. This hasn't been a good week for the game in this country. As a board we weren't at all impressed with the conduct of the players in this matter. It wasn't appropriate or acceptable.
"The whole issue was blown out of all proportion and could have been handled much better.
"We're disappointed Gary has resigned but we admire him for the courage he has shown in making this tough decision and also for the dignified way he has handled himself. Like Gary, we want what's best for the game and, if this helps us later in the year, we'll owe a great deal to Gary."
The residency rule that required the Kiwis coach to live here has been scrapped to clear the way for Bennett's appointment. Of the NZRL's interest in Bennett, Haffenden said "nothing has changed".
The pair have had two discussions regarding a role for the Broncos coach.
That would now be taken a step further by the NZRL football department, which would meet to appoint a coaching selection panel, Haffenden said. The panel will report to the board with some urgency, given the next international - against Australia in Sydney - is just four months away, but the process had to be thorough and correct to get the right outcome.
"If you have a major problem you break it down into little ones and deal with them one at a time," Haffenden said.
He would not say if Kemble would receive a payout.
The choice for the Kiwis' next coach will be determined before the NZRL annual general meeting in March. That meeting will also be used to sign off accounts for 2007 and budgets for 2008.
Across the Tasman, Kangaroos selector Bob McCarthy took a swipe at Bennett's interest in assisting New Zealand. "What is he going to do when the Kiwi national anthem is played? Where is his allegiance going to be? I'd like to see him doing the haka," McCarthy said.
