Graham Lowe: NRL has share of slow coaches

The long and colourful history of transtasman league rivalry is full of examples of Kiwis whose NRL coaches thought they couldn't play, only to have them step up and prove them wrong in the test arena.

Olsen Filipaina and Kurt Sorensen were two great Kiwi players who at various times during their careers fell into this category.

On their day, both could terrorise opposition clubs. But both spent periods in reserve grade for their Winfield Cup outfits, and from there they were chosen for the Kiwis, going on to star in tests against Australia.

In 1985, Filipaina came out of Easts' reserve grade team and went on to be named Man of the Series, marking arguably the game's greatest ever player, Australian captain Wally Lewis.

Any New Zealander with half a league brain knew these guys were not reserve-graders.

In fact, they were top-line internationals who lacked the respect they deserved from their Australian coaches at the time.

And because the likes of Filipaina and Sorensen did not fit the robotic mould that most coaches in Sydney encouraged at the time, their natural talent was rarely appreciated to the extent it should have been.

The truth is, New Zealand players who have played in Sydney have had untold obstacles put in their way to a Kiwi jersey by the so-called better Australian club coaches.

Oh, how the tide has turned.

Any NRL coach today should welcome the opportunity to have one of his Kiwi players representing New Zealand in the test matches because they will get back a better player than they delivered.

Put this down to one man - Kiwi coach Bluey McClennan.

I guarantee the players who spend the test camp build-up with McClennan, his off-sider Graeme Norton and manager Peter Leitch will - win, lose or draw - return to their clubs refreshed, rejuvenated and once again in possession of the natural talent they enjoyed when they first went to play in Australia.

And it is in this area the Kiwis have the wood on Australia.

Because they not only want to do it for themselves and New Zealand, but for their coach.

McClennan may lack the experience of his Australian counterpart, Ricky Stuart, but he more than makes up for it with the obvious love of what he is doing and his passion and belief in his players.

And he also knows what it takes to win a game of footy.

Make no bones about it, Stuart is also a coach under pressure and starting to see Reds under the bed.

This was highlighted by a headline in Sydney's Daily Telegraph: "Ricky rage at Bennett".

The story: "Australian coach Ricky Stuart last night delivered a stinging response to claims by Brisbane's Wayne Bennett that a personality clash could rob Broncos centre Justin Hodges of a test spot.

'He always seems to be talking like a coach who was sacked rather than one who resigned,' Stuart said of his predecessor. 'I wonder what actually happened'?"

Whatever, it appears there is no love lost between Stuart and Bennett and it will be interesting to see the different style of game the Kangaroos produce under the Roosters coach.

Many believe Channel Nine commentator and former coach Phil Gould to be the most unpopular man in league in Australia.

Well, if Australia lose the Anzac test, you can bet that Stuart, who also has problems at the Roosters, will share that title.

McClennan's humble and down-to-earth approach will earn McClennan even more popularity in New Zealand if the Kiwis win this crucial encounter.

There's no doubt that living away from the Sydney media spotlight is a tremendous advantage for the Kiwi coach.

It also highlights the near-impossibility of being able to keep an NRL club on track and also manage the preparation of the nation's test team.

Manly's former coach, Bob Fulton, did an exceptional job of wearing both hats in the early 1990s but even Bennett had to watch his Broncos stumbling during his tenure as Australian coach.

For those of us who have never doubted that New Zealand can produce great league players it is a wonderful time knowing that no matter who is wearing the famed green and gold, it is doubtful they have the talent of Kiwi superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

It's been curious to Kiwi Bulldog fans that Williams has yet to make the Dogs starting team.

Granted, he has returned from nearly a season on the sideline with injury but one would have thought that against Manly last week the Dogs needed their best player on the park to start.

I'm sure Manly coach Des Hasler thought it was a terrific idea to have the best player in the NRL warming the reserves bench for most of the first half.

In the coming test match, where fortunes can turn in an instant, I'm sure McClennan will look to extract every ounce of value from the Bulldogs superstar.

Williams' mere presence on the park is enough to inspire his teammates, and I can't see McClennan allowing him to stay out of the action for long periods.

And as for the plea from Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes for the Kiwi management to go easy on Sonny in the test buildup, I'd say they'll have their hands full keeping the young man from getting too enthusiastic about being back in the black and white jersey.

At least he'll be in a side that looks like it wants to win, unlike the Dogs these days.