KEY POINTS:
Skipper Roy Asotasi has not given embattled Kiwis rugby league coach Gary Kemble a ringing endorsement.
Though conceding that the Kiwis were undergoing a harrowing period after being thrashed by Australia and Great Britain, Asotasi confined himself to telling Radio Sport today that "the boys were doing their best to work with him (Kemble)".
" New Zealand rugby league is undergoing a transition period with a lot of young faces and loss of a lot of experience," Asotasi said.
"It has an effect of the management and coaching staff.
" Gary hasn't been coaching at this level and has no experience at National Rugby League or Super League level - he really has to work hard to try and make up ...
"A lot of players have been coached by elite coaches ... Gary's approach is a bit different and we are just trying to do our best to work with him."
Asotasi said he was "pretty sure the boys had been putting in a lot of effort but it didn't seem to be working the way it should be".
It had been tough for Kemble to succeed a coach as successful as Brian McClennan.
"Gary is a different coach with a different style - Brian had to resign and New Zealand had to look for a coach.
" It is a bit early to judge if he's up to it or not but we just need to hang in there."
He had spoken with the players asking them to focus on the positives and to stick together.
"The boys and myself are trying to do our best to put the Kiwis back on the map again."
- NZPA
