League: McClennan's dream start to Tri-Nations

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan. Picture / Dean Purcell

Who would have thought just a week ago that the man under all the pressure going into tonight's second test at Ericsson Stadium would be, no, not the tyro from Mt Albert, Brian 'Bluey' McClennan, but the revered Australian supercoach Wayne Bennett.

Bennett's glittering career is on the line as he faces the first series defeat for Australia by the Kiwis in more than 50 years.

Bennett's iconic book, reprinted five times since 2002, was famously titled Don't Die With The Music in You.

But if, at the end of 80 minutes this evening the Aussies are goners it's likely Bennett's international, perhaps even NRL, career will be all but dead and buried. There may just be no more music left in the man who delivered five premierships to the Broncos, but who is under heavy attack in Queensland for the club's performances, particularly in the second half of this season.

It's comforting to know that all this will not faze McClennan, who is a feet-on-the-ground league journeyman, nor will it make him in any way complacent.

And that's just as well. Like most Australians, Bennett is most dangerous when he's got his back to the wall.

After the Broncos' disastrous start to the 1999 season, when the club lost seven and drew one of their first nine games, Bennett reflected: "My life has been adversity, but from each disaster I've come back stronger. I don't fear what's happening, I know how to battle through it. I know I'll come out the other side of it and I know they'll [the players] come out with me. It's just a matter of when and we'll be better for it."

McClennan is from what could be described as the cup-of-tea school of New Zealand league. Over the years, the blokes who have most passionately cared about the game at national level have gathered over a cuppa to plot the downfall of various Australian teams.

I did it myself in the 1970s with Mark Graham, whose will to beat the Kangaroos was seared into his soul.

The venue was the back of my auto-electrical business in Otahuhu and we were often joined by Owen Wright and Gary Prohm. Those meetings must have kept the shares of Choysa at an all-time high for a number of years.

The cuppa method has stayed with me all my life. In fact most of the players I coached sat with me at some stage and discussed their game over a cuppa.

I was delighted about two years ago to get a call to join Bluey McClennan and Graeme Norton to have a chat over a cup or two at a cafe in Takapuna.

I could quickly see the same passion, the same recognition that the success of league revolved around our ability to beat Australia.

They were down-to-earth Kiwis, who knew what made New Zealand players think and perform.

They weren't intimidated by Australia, but were still very respectful.

They knew that with the right players and the right coaching, the Aussies were beatable.

And they were prepared to talk all day, every day, about the small pieces making up the large puzzle, which is the key to claiming that victory.

I left that meeting not only chock full of tea, but convinced these guys could resurrect the international reputation for league in this country. And at a time when I felt the game had never needed a win against Australia more.

For me, there was one moment in the test that demonstrated that McClennan had never stopped that process of thinking towards the moment he got his chance.

That was Nigel Vagana's critical try with 14 minutes remaining, seemingly from a piece of individual brilliance. In fact, it was one of the smartest pieces of coaching in the match.

From a scrum win, winger Manu Vatuvei was brought into the backline to run hard at the Aussie halves. He nearly broke through, but still managed a lightning play-the-ball.

The Australian forwards were slow moving backwards from the scrum and fullback Anthony Minichiello was as usual in the defensive line. Vagana scooped up the ball from dummy half and took off, finding thin resistance between himself and the line.

It may have looked opportunistic, but the thought processes involved in creating and probing a defensive line weakness would have started months beforehand.

I know one swallow does not make a summer and tonight's test could turn the dreams of McClennan and Norton into a nightmare. But I don't think so. The difference between this team and the one playing in last year's tri-series is chalk and cheese. The confidence with which they played last week in Sydney was because they were obviously happy and wanted to play for their coach.

I doubt this has been the case for a few years. McClennan will have made it very clear during the week that Australia will come back very strongly tonight. He is also smart enough to know that the game could have turned to disaster for the Kiwis because they took their foot off the accelerator during the middle stages. I don't think this will happen tonight because although the Aussies can and will be a vastly improved outfit, so will the Kiwis.

And what a difference a happy Stacey Jones makes. In a team that was outstanding Jones produced a ripper.

So, too, did the old warhorse Ruben Wiki. He deserves to be remembered as one of the legends of league in this country.

If the Kiwis can win it will truly be celebration time for all league fans in New Zealand. But I also hope they spare a thought for the man in the green and gold blazer who could be seeing the sun set on a fantastic coaching career and the dawning of our own league coaching superstar from the very grassroots of the game.