KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Rugby League's new Kiwis coaching team headed by Gary Kemble were selected for their joint experience and because the board wanted players to see that experience.
Kemble is backed by assistants James Leuluai, who has held that post before, and Phil Prescott, who has led Canterbury consistently into Bartercard Cup finals.
Former Kiwis wing Sam Panapa is back-up, and takes over the role of football manager from Peter Leitch but will expand it to include coaching assistance and mentoring in the dressing room.
"We want the players to see that this is a coaching structure that has the experience at top level. It's one that will cope with the pressure and respond to it," said NZRL manager Peter Cordtz.
There's pressure all right because none of the trio is coaching at any level and their first assignment is against Australia in Wellington in 57 days' time.
Kemble said he felt confident they would put together a team and a game-plan to produce a good performance.
"It's not too short given the quality of the players. I don't see it as a problem."
The South Auckland real estate agent starts work on Monday, with a fulltime role through to the end of the World Cup next year.
He said he felt it was his experience that won him the job and the head of the league's coaching selection panel, Graham Lowe, confirmed that. He said they wanted to base the team leadership on the method successfully followed by Queensland, who have won the last two State of Origin series. It was no big deal that none of the three coaches was actively employed as a coach now.
"Mal [Meninga] hasn't coached for a few years but he's got a great support team.
"[Kemble] put forward a very impressive argument to take the role: his leadership and experience in the game, his coaching has always had good results. Our players need to see around them people who have done it, the environment, the pressure, the whole situation. It's going to be good knowing the experience that's sitting in that dressing room," Lowe said.
Kemble said he would not be a one-man band. "There's plenty of expertise around and to be successful you have to grab that expertise as best you can."
The NZRL is also changing its team selectors, Tony Iro and Daryl Halligan dropping out because they could not commit the time needed on the tour to England this year. The league is yet to decide on replacements to join Tony Kemp and Darrell Williams.
Gary Kemble
1980-86: Kiwis fullback, 19 tests.
1981-86: Hull.
1998-99: Junior Kiwis coach, lost 4 games to Australia.
1995: NZ Residents, assistant to Frank Endacott at World Cup.
1994 and 1995: Hawkes Bay in Lion Red Cup, finished 10th then 9th.
1997: Warriors reserves coach, beaten in the grand final by Cronulla.
2001-02: assistant to Daniel Anderson at the Warriors.
2002: NZ A coach.
2006: Counties-Manukau in Bartercard Cup.
