League: Kiwis coach David Kidwell values time spent with All Blacks

David Kidwell. Photo / photosport

David Kidwell has employed a tactic once considered inconceivable by a Kiwis rugby league coach.

He spent a day with the All Blacks.

Kidwell took the bold step as a means towards righting the ill-discipline and poor performances which have dogged the national side during his tenure. His future will be under scrutiny as New Zealand build for the World Cup, which runs from October 27 to December 2.

Kidwell told NewstalkZB's Tony Veitch he joined coach Steve Hansen's side ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

"I asked myself: What environment do we want? They [the All Blacks] have high standards, which is why they're such a premier sports team. They are very player-led and driven. Everything had a purpose at their trainings. There was no wasted energy.

"I want to make a gap between the NRL and the Kiwis. The Kiwis is the pinnacle of the rugby league world for New Zealand players, so I've got to make sure the standards and values are high.

"We need to know what kind of characters they are when people aren't looking."

Kidwell is trying to build a better team culture after his captain Jesse Bromwich and teammate Kevin Proctor were ruled out of World Cup contention after being allegedly caught on CCTV purchasing and snorting cocaine in Canberra after the Kiwis' Anzac test loss to Australia on May 5.

Ironically, All Blacks Aaron Smith and Jerome Kaino faced questions about their personal lives from the Australian media before the Bledisloe Cup opener. Smith played the Wallabies; Kaino returned home.

"At times players let you down," Kidwell said. "But if you make sure you have clear values and standards to buy into, it lets them know everyone's here for a purpose."

At the time of the Bromwich and Proctor ban, Kidwell said the punishment was a message to other Kiwis.

"This is what we're trying to build here, the integrity of the jersey. We expect them to uphold those values."

"I can't express enough that they have broken my trust, and their team-mates' trust. No-one is bigger than the team."

Kidwell denied requests by NZME publications for a one-on-one interview in the aftermath.

The Kiwis have not played a test in New Zealand since winning the Four Nations final against Australia at Wellington in 2014.