Hugh McGahan: NZRL, don't cheapen the Kiwi jersey

I still don't know why we played that recent fixture against Great Britain. It is also not clear who benefited from it.

Was it the Kiwis, given the knowledge that the New Zealand Rugby League was never going to be allowed to select all its first choice NRL stars? Was the NZRL using it as a development tool or a fundraiser?

Coach Brian McClennan clearly knew his charges were not worthy of the tag Kiwis, as he could not select his best 17 players.

Yet NZRL chairman Sel Pearson maintained it was the best team available and hence deserved the title of the Kiwis.

I cannot agree and the 46-14 scoreline provides evidence that we lacked what was needed to beat a team no better than the one on show in the 2005 Tri Series.

There was no real purpose in developing what was essentially a second team, as several of the players would not be seriously considered for the No 1 Kiwi side - the likes of Willie Talau, Henry Fa'afili and Robbie Paul to name a few.

But what was really disappointing was the lack of effort throughout the game. Outside of the first two minutes, when we opened the scoring, Great Britain dominated all facets of play.

The Kiwi team certainly showed lack of preparation time together but that should still not have prevented them from showing some desire in defence. The way the Brits were able to repeatedly stroll through flimsy tackles was embarrassing.

I hope the coaching staff keep a tape of this and use it as a disincentive for the players by threatening to screen it when they're next in camp.

Many of these players served New Zealand well in the past and unfortunately that is where some of them have had their best days.

We will not see a number of them again in the future.

I still don't know what or who was served best and if it will be a fixture to be considered next year and beyond.

Dean Bell, a Kiwi great who I was lucky enough to play alongside and consider a great friend, is understood to have been perturbed to know that test caps were earned by those who played this fixture.

Dean had a distinguished career with Manukau, Easts, Wigan, the Warriors and the Kiwis. He knows well the meaning of earning a test jersey - and this game fell well below the criteria of what constitutes a test match.

If this former Kiwi has such an opinion, I hope the administrators take note consider what a testreally is and don't cheapen thevalue of the jersey.

Speaking of Dean Bell, I'm sure he would be delighted, like most of us, at the fortunes of the Warriors.

Although the results are what fans are seeking week in and week out, it is really the way the team has worked throughout the season.

The highlights for me have been the consistency of performance and the no-fuss, no-boasting approach to the recent success.

It is refreshing to see coach Ivan Cleary and others stand by their statements that there will be no outlandish claims made regarding the team's fortunes.

No matter what the rest of the year's results, I'm sure the team will continue the work ethic evident at the moment.