League: Must tri harder

By GRAHAM LOWE


There can be no doubt about it, Sky Television and the Kiwis scored a sensational dead-heat in the no-shows of the year contest, played out in last Sunday's Tri-Nations test at Huddersfield.

With the incompetence meter soaring off the scale, both the pay-to-view sports network and the international football team astonishingly went missing in action for a half of the vital Kiwis contest against Great Britain.

It looked like the Sky people had actually failed to turn up for the kick-off and an entertaining first half.

Perhaps it was the cleaner who helpfully flipped the switch for the cameras to show raw pictures, but there was precious little other evidence of human involvement.

In the worst slap-in-the-face for New Zealand league fans, there wasn't even an on-screen acknowledgement to viewers that the game appeared to be brought to the audience by Marcel Marceau Productions.

And just as great a mystery was where did the Kiwis get to at halftime? It certainly wasn't the same bunch of players who ran out to capitulate so meekly to Great Britain in the second half.

The effort (or lack of it) by Sky and the Kiwis was inexcusable and heads should roll. But I won't be holding my breath. This is league and accountability is only about what the bean-counters do with the gate takings.

The Kiwis' second-half collapse was as bad as their effort against Australia a couple of weeks ago and one can only speculate as to what is going on with the team over there. At this level, or for that matter any level, it should be inexcusable.

Dramatically dropping off the pace in the second half is a mental problem and something that should have been addressed well before the kickoff.

While the focus has to be on the players after a capitulation like we have seen, I can't help feeling that there seems to be a comfort zone that has been allowed to infect the camp, and the players cannot be held wholly accountable for that.

Ali Lauitiiti should have started in the second row and Robbie Paul should have started at halfback. This is not rocket science, it's a matter of putting the best players out there first, a method always used by Australia.

Great Britain have shown in their first two outings they are very capable of beating the Kangaroos this weekend and blowing New Zealand's hopes of a finals berth away.

It should never have got to the stage where our chances are now hanging on the prospects of the Brits losing to Australia.

There is now a sameness about everything the Kiwis are doing. It is a sameness that has been around for a long time and until this problem is addressed it will continue.

When I consider the predicament the Kiwis and the NZRL are in, it reminds me very much of the South Sydney Rabbitohs scenario.

Deeply in the mire, they head-hunted Shane Richardson from the Panthers to take over as CEO, and he is putting a totally new football staff in place, even though it means removing some who have been part of the furniture for years.

It is easy for a cosy mentality to creep into any organisation if there is not a regular appraisal of thinking and, at times, even staff.

People become comfortable with what they are doing and without hard-headed experience around to ask the tough questions and demand results and accountability, before you know it another chance has slipped away.

Even young Sonny Bill Williams, who is the best young modern-day Kiwi player I've ever seen, is being dragged into a system that is stifling his brilliance.

League is an emotional game, with supporters who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

So disappointments like those of the last two tests are extremely hard to handle. But what is even more difficult is the apparent acceptance of mediocrity.

The NZRL is now between a rock and a hard place because it is going to have to make a few tough calls if this Tri-Nations does not

deliver the result the Kiwis are capable of.

Coach Daniel Anderson's career is once again at the crossroads and it should have never come to this.

I'm expecting Great Britain to beat Australia on Sunday because of the way they are able to use the ball before the line of defence.

One of the Aussies' great strengths is their defence, but that can be made less effective if Great Britain use the ball before the defensive line, as they did against the Kiwis.

The Great Britain scrum base trio of five-eighth Danny McGuire, halfback Sean Long and loose forward Paul Sculthorpe are the best combination of the Tri-Nations and will cause the Aussies the biggest problems.

Australia will be forced to play a power game, but will need more than that to win.

If Darren Lockyer is passed fit to play it would be a massive boost for the Aussies, but I would be surprised if they did not keep him in cotton wool until the final.

This Tri-Nations format is terrific and the three teams involved have produced some great entertainment.

But from a selfish New Zealand point of view, I was expecting far more from this Kiwi team.

The question has to be asked, why have we not lived up to expectations?

The need for a director of football on the NZ board is now not just important, it is vital.

What Kiwis need to do


Play with passion for the full 80 minutes.

Use their best players at the start - last week Ali Lauitiiti should have started in the second row and Robbie Paul at halfback

Address the long-running sameness about everything the Kiwis are doing. Someone is needed to ask the tough questions

Change a system that is stifling young players

Employ a director of football