KEY POINTS:
Gary Kemble has few options as he scrabbles for a foothold in the series against Great Britain.
He needs to change players but the only ones available are inexperienced and inexperience is his problem.
Kemble has already indicated he will alter the 17 for the third test against the Lions at Hull but will have done little to settle the nerves of the squad with his statement that some are not stepping up, are not at international level and will be told so in one-on-ones in coming days.
The players had a "think tank" after the 44-0 hiding at Hull and provided feedback as to why that happened plus a vote of confidence in the coaching staff, Kemble said.
"Roy [captain Asotasi] and the core players have put their full backing to the coaching and management team. We're a close-knit unit. We have to stay tight and that's what they want to do.
"They let themselves down, they know that. They have put the blame on themselves, no one else. They just thought that their attitude wasn't good out on the field.
"Everything leading up to it as far as they were concerned was good, so they've addressed that and we have to work to make sure they step up."
Kemble is staring at a fourth straight defeat since he took over from Brian McClennan mid-year - Great Britain are simply too good. If the New Zealand Rugby League sticks with its contract requirement that Kemble win 75 per cent of his games, he's done.
That was always a ridiculous mark given that the Kiwis win around 25 per cent of their games against the Kangaroos (28/112) and 36 per cent (39/109) against Great Britain.
The video from the Kiwis dressing room at halftime in Hull was not encouraging, the coach arms out and palms up as if asking for explanation.
It was then and remains now a time for leadership, not questioning. Off the field, there is the damning background of the sexual assault allegations made against team members in Wellington.
Kemble is aware of the threat that his contract may end a year early because of the dismal preparation for the 2008 World Cup that this tour has turned into. Speaking about it on Radio Sport yesterday, he sounded like Wayne Smith in 2000 - not sure he should have the job. It doesn't inspire confidence.
If he does go, there are two options: Go cap-in-hand back to McClennan or appoint the Storm's assistant coach Steve Kearney. That would require the NZRL to scrap its residency requirement for the Kiwis coach, a rule brought in solely to exclude Gary Freeman and one which has no value when three-quarters of the players are overseas.
Thomas Leuluai continues to struggle with a corked thigh and it looks like the Aussie test pairing of Jeremy Smith and Ben Roberts may return at the expense of Leuluai and Lance Hohaia when the team for Wigan is named later this week. Epalahame Lauaki and Tame Tupou are both back in full training and are options. Those pressing in training are Chase Stanley and Shaun Kenny-Dowall. They are the two squad members yet to play, both on debut. It seems likely Storm prop Jeff Lima will come back, strangely not used since the Aussie game, where he was one of the few performers.
Lions coach Tony Smith has stepped back from suggestions post test two that he would try new combinations and rest his veterans, partly because the veterans want a taste of something they've never had before - a series win, let alone a three-nil whitewash.
Smith said his side would not under-estimate the Kiwis. "There is a hunger about them. There were no celebrations after the game and we had just won a series. Everybody decided to have their celebrations after the final game, that in itself is a significant attitude towards doing the job right through to the end."
Both Adrian Morley and Keith Senior played their first tests in the 3-0 series loss in New Zealand in 1996.
"I've had some discussions both with the coaching staff and some of the players. There are players that have been involved with Great Britain for a long time and probably haven't had the chance to be there at the end of a successful campaign. Whilst there are some benefits in some people being given a week off, there are probably some psychological scars that could be repaired for a few people."
Smith has yet to use Huddersfield lock Stephen Wild, Leeds second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Salford wing David Hodgson, Hull centre Kirk Yeaman and Bradford fullback Michael Platt. The latter seems unlikely because he has elected to play for Ireland at the World Cup.
