Rugby League: Endacott chasing perfect swansong

LEEDS - Big, burly Frank Endacott will shed a tear in the famous Old Trafford dressing-room on Sunday.

With a lump in his throat, he will gaze around at the Kiwi players and the black-and-white jerseys for the last time. The emotions will be pouring out even faster if the Kiwis beat Australia and win the rugby league World Cup at Manchester United's "Theatre of Dreams."

Win or lose, the curtain will come down on Endacott's Kiwi coaching career.

Endacott has been New Zealand coach since 1994 and a World Cup win would be a fitting tribute to his efforts and energy in this tough, blue-collar sport.

There are no pretensions about Frank Endacott. They call him "Happy Frank" in England because he is always so obliging. But you would not want to get on the wrong side of him or rub him up the wrong way, as some New Zealand rugby league officials know.

Some were keen to make Endacott the scapegoat for the 0-52 hiding by Australia in the Anzac test in April. Their reaction helped him to decide it was time to step down.

"There were vibes after the Anzac test about sacking me," Endacott said. "It made me hot under the collar. I said I wouldn't seek reappointment after the World Cup.

"I reacted strongly and I make no apologies for it either, because I didn't deserve what I got from three board members. I found it very hard to take. The other board members were very supportive."

Endacott wrote a letter to the New Zealand Rugby League board a month before the Anzac test, asking it to cancel the test for a number of reasons.

"In hindsight, I wish they had. We were on a hiding to nothing. The Australians dictated all the terms of the test. It was supposed to have been a home game in Wellington," he said.

"They said they wouldn't play us in New Zealand. The NZRL backed down and said we would go to Australia.

"The Aussies backed the English rugby league in keeping Henry and Robbie Paul so they didn't arrive in Australia until two days before the game. We had one decent training run before the test. That was a joke and the Pauls played out on their feet.

"There was no neutral ref. Three key players pulled out with injury on the Monday and a fourth player pulled out on the Tuesday.

"Every little thing went against us. It was the worst preparation in my seven seasons as Kiwi coach. So we were on a hiding to nothing, and we lost skipper Richie Barnett with a terrible injury during the game.

"After the test, one board member had a go at me and I reacted angrily to him. When I got back to Auckland, my mother was dying so I went to see her for the last time, so I didn't need all this rubbish.

"I was asked to meet the board on the way to the airport before flying back to England.

"I met them for an hour. I told them I didn't want to walk out the door unless everyone accepted the reasons I gave them [for the Anzac loss] and it was unanimous.

"I know for a fact that by the time I reached the carpark those same three people were talking about sacking me. That's when I decided I would not stand again. They should have given me total support instead of the backstabbing I got.

"I haven't thought about reconsidering. The players might need someone else now. I've been around for seven seasons. They might need a new face."

During his time Endacott has treated the Kiwi squad like a family and is a father-figure to many of the players.

"It is going to be sad at the weekend. I'm going to miss the comradeship of the national team. In seven seasons I've made some very good friends," he said.

"The worst thing will be leaving it all behind. Just sitting in the dressing-room with that black-and-white jersey ... I'm going to miss that. It's something special.

"It's the pinnacle of one's career. I've just been very fortunate and proud to be the national coach for seven years.

"It will be quite emotional for me.

"I'm looking forward to the day like I have never looked forward to one ever before.

"It's always been a dream and goal of mine to win a World Cup final as coach, and this is the last chance I'm going to get to do it."

Endacott loves a laugh and a beer with the young players. He does not get too close, but has helped many of them more than most people would realise.

He has been with this rich crop of players for a long time.

Henry Paul was his Junior Kiwi captain in Britain in 1993.

Quentin Pongia and Endacott go back to their Canterbury days together and he selected Pongia for Bob Bailey's Junior Kiwi team when Pongia was 16.

Endacott will miss the camaraderie and the challenge of coaching the Kiwis, but he will not change his mind about standing down at the end of the year.

He said: "I made the decision six months ago and I won't go back on it."

Endacott's contract finishes on New Year's Eve.

He will be back in New Zealand for a holiday next month, but might return earlier if the Kiwis rock the Aussies.

Whatever the result, it will be a passionate day for big Frank in his 34th and last test as the happy Kiwi coach.

- NZPA

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