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Good morning from Australia's Gold Coast.
Surfing at Coolangatta, Gold Coast
Latest NewsAndrew Chalmers and Graham Lowe got it wrong
You could hardly blame Brian McClennan for feeling just a little smug as he watched England smash the Kiwis 44-nil in Hull at the weekend to wrap up the rugby league test series, writes Joseph Romanos this week.
McClennan, one of the finest coaches of the Kiwis among the 27 men who have held the position, and the man who guided them to the historic 24-nil win over Australia in the 2005 Tri Nations final, was pushed out of the job a few months ago.
New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers and power-behind-the-throne Graham Lowe were guilty of some shameless Machiavellian manoeuvrings aimed at undermining much of McClennan's authority.
They wanted to change the rules midway through his contract to reduce his power as a selector and make him more answerable to others.
In the end McClennan, who loved looking after the Kiwis, really had no choice but to quit, and he's now coaching at Leeds, which is their gain and our loss.
I spoke to him just before he left for England. He is one of the subjects of a book I've just released, Winning Ways, highlighting the secrets of some of our best coaches. I thought he might be able to assist with publicity around the time of the launch.
"I'd love to help," he said, "but I'm trying really hard not to undermine Gary Kemble."
While it didn't do much for my book's sales, I thought this was pretty decent of McClennan, who was replaced in the Kiwis job by Kemble.
"Gary has got a tough job ahead of him because he's got some good players unavailable, and I think it's going to be a real struggle for him," said McClennan.
"Anything I say, or any headlines I create, are not going to be helpful to him."
I wasn't surprised at this reaction from McClennan, because it would be difficult to find a person more passionate about the Kiwis. He had the maturity to be able to separate his own unfair treatment from the fortunes of the national team.
However, rugby league fans watching that 44-nil slaughter at Hull surely wished for the good old days when McClennan was in charge.
The Kiwis have now suffered three humiliating losses in four weeks - a 58-nil drubbing by Australia in Wellington, and consecutive losses to England. This is the first series England has won since the early 1990s.
The Kiwis looked aimless and offered almost nothing in defence while England ran in eight tries.
No one would suggest that the entire reason a team disappoints is because of the coach, but he must be a contributing factor, just as he deserves his share of credit for the success of a team.
When a team looks disorganised, and lacking in planning, someone has to take the blame.
The easy answer is to point the finger at Kemble, and because he's such a quality person, Kemble has been at pains to accept much of the responsibility.
I go further, though.
I wonder whether rent-a-quote Chalmers, who seems to have had something to say about everything lately, no matter how nonsensical, and Lowe, are men enough to come clean and admit they got it wrong. Don't hold your breath. Southland Times
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Graham Lowe admits Gary Kemble "out of depth"
New Zealand Rugby League Director of Football Graham Lowe has admitted embattled Kiwis coach Gary Kemble is "out of his depth" but is still backing him to turn things around.
The admission comes after Great Britain annihilated the Kiwi team 44-0 on Sunday.
When asked whether he thought Kemble was struggling, Lowe agreed.
"I think he looks out of his depth as well to me at the moment but all coaches know you either sink or swim, you all get out of your depth at some stage but that's inexperience that's all that that is."
His comments have staggered many in the sport.
"I've got to say if Lowie thinks Gary Kemble's out of his depth you've got to ask the question what he is doing there in the first place," said former Kiwi Dean Lonergan.
"I think maybe Gary needs someone beside him someone off the selection panel like a Frank Endacott, a Howie Tamati who's been through this before to steady the ship because those comments from Graham Lowe at the moment, you'd have to say that Gary doesn't have the full confidence of his boss."
Following the resignation of Brian McClennan in July, Kemble was appointed by a three-man selection panel of former Kiwis coaches Howie Tamati, Frank Endacott and headed by Lowe.
"I take all the blame for bringing Gary in because I believe in Gary and if people are looking for blood well I'm here," said Lowe.
Yet Lowe is still backing Kemble. "I had confidence in him, I still have confidence he can turn something around." Read more TVNZ
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Great Britain coach Tony Smith to make changes
Great Britain coach Tony Smith has hinted that he will make changes to his side for Saturday's third and final Test against New Zealand.
Smith's side sealed a series success with the 44-0 thrashing of the Kiwis in the second Test at Hull's KC Stadium and the Australian is keen to complete a whitewash against the tourists.
"There's a fair chance I'll bring in some of the other guys," he said.
"I was hoping to be able to give a couple of guys a well-earned rest if I can, so I'll sit down and have a look at that.
"There's some guys there that have played a lot of rugby league this year, but it's a tough call whether to rest people or not.
"It's not necessarily resting - it's the preservation of some top players. It will be a juggle to get it just right.
"We want to win the series 3-0, but I want to give the guys who I know are good enough a chance." Read more SPORTBOXtv
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Roosters offer wantaway Mason an AWA: a wage abatement
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis says his club would be interested in talking to Willie Mason if the Bulldogs released him, but that the Test star would have to be serious about taking a significant pay cut.
Politis said the Roosters would not be interested in a contract that would see Mason, who is on $450,000 a season at the Bulldogs, receive a minimal amount next season but enough in following years to average out the deal in line with his current salary. Read more League HQ
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Willie Mason's holds Hull talks
Hull FC have confirmed they are in talks with Australian Test forward Willie Mason's agent about a possible move to the KC Stadium. Mason, 27, is currently in dispute with his club, the Canterbury Bulldogs. And Hull chief executive James Rules told the club's website: "Willie is a world-class player and I can reveal we have spoken to his agent. "Bringing Willie out of Australia could be a long shot, but we're in the process of trying to sell Hull to him." BBC
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Scotland's qualification for World Cup huge - Andy Todd
Scotland's qualification for the 2008 World Cup will encourage more players to make the switch from rugby union, it was claimed today. The Scots clinched a place in the 10-team tournament in Australia alongside England and Ireland after beating Wales on aggregate in their qualifying group and will line up against France and Fiji in Group C next October and November.
Rugby league is still in its infancy in Scotland but the six-team domestic competition provided two players for the team which lost 18-16 to Wales in Glasgow on Sunday and one of them is now expecting interest to soar. "Rugby league is growing all the time," said winger Andy Todd, who won his second cap in Old Anniesland. Read more Sporting Life
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Lightning teenage Gold Coast Titan
Teenage sensation Shannon Walker is tipped to become one of the fastest men in the NRL next season after posting a scorching sprint time on the Titans' first day of pre-season training at Casuarina yesterday. Read more GC Bulletin
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Ex-Kiwi's fraud scheme elaborate, court told
Ex-Kiwi league captain Hugh McGahan used an elaborate scheme of invoices and accounts to defraud sports organisations out of charity money, an Auckland court has heard. NZ Herald
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League, union and AFL stars all back in training
A day before the Melbourne Cup and just three days before cricket's first Test, Australia's three premier football codes returned to training yesterday. Sydney Roosters, Newcastle, Canberra and Wests Tigers were back slogging away in spring while Cronulla also returned for individual testing.
Read more Daily Telegraph
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League advice not taken, court told
By Geesche Jacobsen
Shane Anthony Green was 16, of slight build and had a long thin neck when he was selected to play hooker for his reserve grade rugby league team in 1994.
Today he is a quadriplegic suing those running the game in which his neck was broken when a scrum collapsed.
A coaching manual by an education consultant to the Australian Rugby League, Peter Corcoran, had stated there was "no room in the game for forwards with long necks and narrow shoulders", the Supreme Court was told yesterday.
Mr Green played for the Laurieton United Rugby League Football Club in Old Bar, near Taree, in an open-age game. His team, it is claimed, was coached by an unaccredited or unqualified coach. He is alleging negligence by the Australian Rugby League, the Country Rugby League, his football club, the coach and referee in a long-running case which is taking a close look at the rules of the game.
Mr Green claims the organisers of the game knew players, especially those of a slight build and those playing in the front row, were exposed to spinal injury. They had failed to warn him and his parents of the risk, instruct him how to strengthen his neck, or modify the rules to prevent pushing in the scrum. Nor had they adequately instructed referees to interpret the rules or trained coaches or players.
An ARL coaching manual provided teams be evenly matched in age, height, weight and neck size, Mr Green's lawyers say in documents filed in court.
Mr Corcoran told the court an official skills manual for players encouraged them to use their weight to achieve maximum upset to the opposition in the scrum, "but there was not a great lift and push to a degree it was likely to be unsafe unless the other side were limited in their technique".
Read more League HQ
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John Stankevitch's statement re Widnes appointment of Steve McCormack
The recent speculation over the status of John Stankevitch as Head Coach of Doncaster Rugby League caused many Dons fans to worry over the status of the youngest coach in the National Leagues.
Stankevitch took time to make this statement about his name being linked with his home town club after the news had been revealed about the return of Steve McCormack.
"Hopefully, now that Widnes Vikings have announced the new coach, this will end speculation regarding my return to the club.
"As I have maintained in all my interviews and articles, it was nice for me to be linked with my hometown club in capacity of Head Coach, it shows that my reputation is steadily building and I'm sure if we can have a successful season then the players and myself will all be open to further approaches in the future. This is part and parcel of the game of rugby league.
"All that I can say to this, is that if you don't hear it from the horses mouth, then take it with a pinch of salt.
"As I have said for two weeks, I had no approach from the Vikings, and neither did the Doncaster owners. I made no contact personally with the Vikings and all along I believe I was professional enough to carry on with my job as Doncaster Head Coach.
"I was extremely pleased to join Doncaster back in July/August and I am very happy to be here at this point.
"I said in an interview yesterday morning that the situation regarding my link was starting to become tiresome for everybody involved at the club and felt that it was beginning to impact on us all. This is why I made the decision to state a commitment to Doncaster.
"I can now concentrate fully on the matter at hand, and that is our 2008 season.
"One thing that I would like to mention that I hope is some sort of omen, is that, at the age of 16, I decided to join St Helens rather than my hometown club Widnes.
"I did this for reasons that I shall not divulge, however, I went on to enjoy my best playing days at Knowsley Road and it wasn't until my career was unfortunately coming to an end that Widnes made me an offer. In my coaching capacity, if the same happens then I hope we are in for some very successful times in the near future and that I have my best days at the Dons."
The Dons Coach now intends to focus purely on preparation for the Co-operative National League 2 season ahead with several of his players in early pre season training including Chief Executive Shane Miller. Doncaster Online
Kemble says Kiwis still a league force
New Zealand rugby league coach Gary Kemble insists the Kiwis remain a force despite their demoralising defeats against Australia and Great Britain.
Bailey wants one more crack at Origin
The lure of playing Origin football under new NSW coach Craig Bellamy has banished any thoughts of representative retirement from the mind of Luke Bailey.
Cross says Titans can make NRL top four
Gold Coast recruit Matthew Cross has boldly declared the Titans can make the NRL top four if they enjoy a good run with injuries in 2008.
Joel Clinton wants finals at Brisbane
Changing clubs was never on former rugby league Test prop Joel Clinton's radar, but the new Bronco is hungry for a finals berth. Read more Yahoo Sport
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Wales in danger of missing out on 2008 World Cup
Wales, semi-finalists in each of the last two World Cups, are in serious danger of missing out on the 2008 event in Australia.
An 18-16 victory over Scotland in Glasgow on Sunday was not enough to earn them automatic qualification and they must now enter the dreaded repechage in a bid to claim the 10th and final place in the main draw.
The Scots grabbed ninth place courtesy of a 37-32 aggregate victory and will make history by appearing in the World Cup finals for the first time.
Steve McCormack's men, who join England and Ireland in the main draw, will start their campaign against France in Canberra on October 26 and meet Fiji on the Central Coast on November 5.
Wales, meanwhile, have little time to lick their wounds. They face a sudden-death tie against Lebanon at Widnes on Friday, with the winners taking on Samoa or the United States in the repechage final at Featherstone five days later.
With an influx of former New Zealand Test players in their ranks, Samoa are the firm favourites to reach the World Cup via the back door and McCormack admits he was mightily relieved not to have to go down that route.
"Nobody wants to play in the repechage but I think Wales will go there and do really well," he said.
"I hope they qualify. We want all the home nations to get to the World Cup. It was desperate that we didn't get into the repechage and I thought the effort in the last 10 minutes of the game reflected that."
Scotland, who went into Sunday's game with a seven-point cushion from the game in Bridgend, turned a 14-4 interval deficit into a 16-14 lead thanks to second-half tries from Ben Fisher and Jamie Benn and two further goals from captain Danny Brough.
A late try from Welsh winger Damien Gibson gave Wales the victory but the brave Scots repelled a late onslaught to make sure of the aggregate success.
The Welsh were worthy of their early lead, which came courtesy of tries from centres Luke Dyer and Adam Hughes, both converted by Iestyn Harris, but they were badly hit by ankle injuries to captain Lee Briers and hooker Ian Webster.
Wales were angered by their exclusion from the five-strong list of seeded teams for the World Cup but executive chairman Mark Rowley still believes they can reach Australia.
"We'll have to do it the hard way," he said.
"We've come up short a little bit so we need to beat Lebanon, then probably Samoa, both sides we've beaten before.
"On our day, we can beat anybody, but today wasn't our day."
Lebanon, who were also forced to enter the repechage after losing out in the other European qualifying group on points difference to Ireland, are equally confident of grabbing the final spot.
Team manager Anthony Elias said: "We only lost 24-22 to Wales in the 2000 World Cup and they haven't got as many players as they had then, with Keiron Cunningham and the other guys not playing now. "I think we can still put a good effort in against them."
Peacock looks at whitewash
Jamie Peacock believes Great Britain can storm to a series whitewash against New Zealand.
Read more Sporting Life
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Andrew Johns applauds Melbourne Storm tactics
Andrew Johns says he is blown away by the increasing speed of the NRL but, unlike most critics, he believes Melbourne should be applauded for their slowing wrestling tactics.
Johns is amazed at the strength, speed and power of young stars like Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Jarryd Hayne, who are revolutionising league with their fearless style of play.
But the former Newcastle premiership winner says 2007 champions the Storm deserve credit and not criticism for taking the stranglehold on wrestling as all clubs have tried to master the art for a decade.
"The wrestling stuff, we were doing it 10 years ago," said Johns today.
"Every club has done it for 10 years but this year it's been emphasised by the media and everyone has sort of jumped on it.
"I can remember back 10 years ago we'd be doing judo throws and wrestling holds on people.
"The ruck is the game. It is so important.
"It's part of the game, the wrestle and controlling the ruck and Melbourne, if anything, should be applauded for the way they do it."
Johns says he is excited about the future of the NRL and looks forward to commentating on the new stars in his role with Channel Nine. Read more Foxsports
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Former coach slams Kiwis' attitude - Players accused of not caring about New Zealand
Former New Zealand rugby league coach Bob Bailey has slammed the current Kiwis players as mercenaries who have little regard for test football.
Much criticism has been directed at coach Gary Kemble in the wake of the Kiwis' 0-44 drubbing by Great Britain at Hull on Sunday morning but Bailey said the players' "disgraceful" attitude should be highlighted.
He was also critical of outspoken New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chairman Andrew Chalmers, who he described as a "boofhead".
Bailey said the players had shown a lack of urgency in all three tests under Kemble over the last month, including the 0-58 loss to Australia in Wellington.
"Most of the players don't live in New Zealand no more so they don't care about New Zealand much anyway," Bailey told Radio Sport.
"I believe if they make the Kiwis team it's a bonus for them at the end of the year.
"They make some extra money but as for putting on the Kiwi jersey, I don't think it's that important to them no more."
Bailey was most deriding of Penrith second rower Frank Pritchard, who he said was responsible for letting through "80 per cent" of Great Britain's tries.
Captain Roy Asotasi was the only player who could hold his head up following the weekend's capitulation, said Bailey, but the skipper was out of order with his veiled post-match criticism of Kemble.
Asotasi said Kemble was "still finding his feet" at international level.
"That's just a cop out from them trying to put the blame on somebody else, which players usually do," Bailey said.
"They should be looking at themselves, not the coach all the time.
"The comradeship of playing for New Zealand has gone. I don't think they really care whether they play or not."
The coach had no control over players' desire to tackle, a key measuring stick which had failed badly again over the weekend.
"Defending is a personal agenda," he said.
"You can go out on the paddock and make 50 tackles one day but if you don't feel like it the next week, you can make 20.
"It relates back to the individual.
"Blaming the coach is quite simple."
Bailey said Chalmers should be held accountable for his off-field antics, particularly his vocal disapproval of the referee appointment and the judicial process.
Chalmers last month described Great Britain prop Adrian Morley as a "maniac".
"I think he's made a fool of himself," Bailey said.
"How can the players look up to him and say `we've got something to aim for' if he's making a boofhead of himself at the same time."
The NZRL administration was the worst it had ever been, Bailey added, including iconic former coach Graham Lowe in his assessment.
"Graham's been recycled. Graham's probably going through the motions of being involved in rugby league late in life. He probably believes in what he does but whether he's right or wrong is another thing." he said. Read more Stuff
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