Rugby League: Norton, Kemble next in line

By PETER JESSUP

Frank Endacott was yesterday confirmed as Kiwi coach through to the end-of-year World Cup, with national nines coach Graeme Norton and Junior Kiwi coach Gary Kemble to assist in team preparation.

Endacott has already said he will not seek another term after the World Cup in November, and the New Zealand Rugby League board's decision yesterday clearly ranks Norton and Kemble as contenders one and two, in that order.

The league was not saying as much, concentrating instead on defining Norton's and Kemble's role as the ground-preparation team in the Southern Hemisphere while Endacott is busy with his Wigan duties.

The Kiwi squad of 26 will be chosen after consultation between the trio. Testing and training in New Zealand and in Australia will be overseen by the pair, so there is consistency in the game-plan when the squad arrive in Britain.

The board also discussed player availability, and confirmed afterwards that two players who have the option of representing both Australia and New Zealand and who had made representative teams in Australia had since indicated they wanted to join the Kiwis.

NZRL chief executive Gary Allcock would not name them, but the Herald knows one is Bronco Tonie Carroll.

Allcock said Newcastle wing Timana Tahu had been spoken to and had indicated he wanted to finish the NRL season before making a decision.

He said: "We only want players who want to play for New Zealand, not players who have missed out on Australian selection who want to go to the World Cup."

Some good may yet come out of the Anzac test thrashing. Early budget returns look better than last year's, indicating that the NZRL will get the promised $A500,000 payout that appeared to be in jeopardy from the small crowd figures.

The Australian Rugby League will meet to finalise the accounts on June 6, and two representatives are expected here the following week with a cheque and for talks about the 2001 Anzac game.

There are suggestions across the Tasman that the Anzac international be abandoned, with that day's match becoming State of Origin game one. The NZRL will consider such a request provided it has an assurance of an annual three-test programme.