Internationals Sack coach Kearney

[Jay M]

Kerney picked the best defensive team he could, and it's got us to No1. So I'm happy with his selections given the injuries he's had to contend with.

Shaun Johnson
Foran
Taumalolo
Eastwood
Mannering
Vatuvai
Leuluai

7 of his first choice players out of action and he still had the balls to stick with his values and leave Benji at home to maintain the teams attitude. He's a great coach IMO..

One question though... How many of those players would have been available if it was the four nations or a series against Australia or a world cup?

I suspect more than half of that list were able to play if required. The clubs wouldn't have pulled the same BS if it was a top series IMO.

 

[brightman]

I believe Kearney thinks my way or the highway???

WTF are you on about???

 

[surfin]

WTF are you on about???

Who ever heard of the boss being in charge, seems silly to me.

 

[Horriors2014]

Kidwell looked more like the Kiwis coach then Kearney. Kidwell just exudes that Kiwi passion.

Oh FFS. So we should make Peter Leitch the coach then?

 

[surfin]

Oh FFS. So we should make Peter Leitch the coach then?

He could put them all on a BBQ red meat diet, wrapped in white bread with refrigerated vege oil fried onions and tomato sauce, carcinogenics be damned.

 

[mode81]

Oh FFS. So we should make Peter Leitch the coach then?

Don't get your knickers in a twist, did I say I wanted Kearney sacked?

 

[mode81]

Not sure if showing emotion proves your coaching skills, Bennett has done OK over the last 30 years or so showing little more than occasionally blinking.

Uhhh mentioning that Kidwell showed more passion doesn't mean I want Kearney sacked, holy fark you sensitive lot.

 

[Horriors2014]

Playing Hiku at 6 and not taking Marshall backfired on him in the end.

I could easily agree with you. Except I won't because of a number of reasons. Firstly, the Kiwi selectors said verbally that Benji was not good for team culture. Benji helped us win our first WC. But you could argue that we were still one-hit wonders. We still lost the Anzac Test and the next WC.

Post Benji/SBW/Hoffman/Inu etc all, we'very been super consistent. I say Kearney/Kidwell is a winning combo for us. I say give them another 10 years. They can only get better and better. They can bring through more good coaches. It would be a sad day to sack Kearney. It would likely set us back 5 +years.

Benji might have done better than Hiku but at what cost? Would he have divided the team? Nikau said it would. That is an obvious admission that they've identified team culture as the biggest weakness in our ill-fated 2013 campaign. So while he would have fixed our kicking game, he might also have reduced team spirit.

Also, although Hiku made some important blunders, it's important to note that the key moments of the series were lost by bad reffing decisions. The fact we were closer to England than many had predicted, myself included, speaks volumes about how little wrong the halves did.

I was expecting to be embarrassed. But the whole series was close. I enjoyed it. Every game was a nail biter. It was better for the game than if we won.

I thought Kearney's coaching was spot on. He managed to focus on development and almost pull off a series win with 7 guys missing. When in our history have we done that?

He told the boys at halftime not to lose their attacking structure and to not finish the series with regret. I thought that was appropriate. The greasy conditions were unforgiving of handling errors. But at the same time they needed to play with pride and leave nothing in the tank. I think they did that.

Hiku got better at general play as 6 I reckon. He would never make that many errors in a whole season of NRL. But he had to play a pivotal role and therefore chanced his arm more. As Manly play him more at 6 he'll grow. He seems to me to be a steady learner who learns one thing at a time. I'm sure Kearney sees him as a permanent back-up 6-cum-utility.

Get used to Hiku/Nikorima because I reckon they are our long-term backup halves.

 

[Horriors2014]

Don't get your knickers in a twist, did I say I wanted Kearney sacked?

My point is people show passion in different ways. Is Wayne Bennett passionate?

 

[surfin]

Uhhh mentioning that Kidwell showed more passion doesn't mean I want Kearney sacked, holy fark you sensitive lot.

Don't fret for me, I'm not upset, just because I mentioned Kearney showed little emotion doesn't mean showing emotion makes you a bad coach. Bellyaches been pretty successful as well and he generally looks one popped artery away from an aneurysm.

 

[mt.wellington]

Benji might have done better than Hiku but at what cost? Would he have divided the team? Nikau said it would. That is an obvious admission that they've identified team culture as the biggest weakness in our ill-fated 2013 campaign. So while he would have fixed our kicking game, he might also have reduced team spirit.

Wasnt Benji Marshall's omission due to the senior group of players voting him out? Didnt it all start with Keiran Foran vowing to never ever play for the Kiwis again while Benji was in the team after Benji went well off the game plan and played for himself? Doesnt that leave Mooks and the selectors in an impossible possession? Select Benji but risk the wrathe of a handful of top line players...

 

[bruce]

I thought Kearney's coaching was spot on. He managed to focus on development and almost pull off a series win with 7 guys missing. When in our history have we done that?

It reminds me of the team Ces Mountford developed for Graham Lowe back in the early 80's

the whole series was close. I enjoyed it. Every game was a nail biter. It was better for the game than if we won.

I agree. It shows international rugby league is truly the pinnacle and that the Kiwis and England are very close. I reckon the Kiwis would have won down here with an Aussie ref. Not that the ref was crooked but those Wigan fans are both knowledgeable and vocal. The 50/50s were always going to go their way and they did. BTW watching league at Wigan is a real experience, lovely friendly people who just love Kiwis and an ale after the game.

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

I could easily agree with you. Except I won't because of a number of reasons. Firstly, the Kiwi selectors said verbally that Benji was not good for team culture. Benji helped us win our first WC. But you could argue that we were still one-hit wonders. We still lost the Anzac Test and the next WC.

Post Benji/SBW/Hoffman/Inu etc all, we'very been super consistent. I say Kearney/Kidwell is a winning combo for us. I say give them another 10 years. They can only get better and better. They can bring through more good coaches. It would be a sad day to sack Kearney. It would likely set us back 5 +years.

Benji might have done better than Hiku but at what cost? Would he have divided the team? Nikau said it would. That is an obvious admission that they've identified team culture as the biggest weakness in our ill-fated 2013 campaign. So while he would have fixed our kicking game, he might also have reduced team spirit.

Also, although Hiku made some important blunders, it's important to note that the key moments of the series were lost by bad reffing decisions. The fact we were closer to England than many had predicted, myself included, speaks volumes about how little wrong the halves did.

I was expecting to be embarrassed. But the whole series was close. I enjoyed it. Every game was a nail biter. It was better for the game than if we won.

I thought Kearney's coaching was spot on. He managed to focus on development and almost pull off a series win with 7 guys missing. When in our history have we done that?

He told the boys at halftime not to lose their attacking structure and to not finish the series with regret. I thought that was appropriate. The greasy conditions were unforgiving of handling errors. But at the same time they needed to play with pride and leave nothing in the tank. I think they did that.

Hiku got better at general play as 6 I reckon. He would never make that many errors in a whole season of NRL. But he had to play a pivotal role and therefore chanced his arm more. As Manly play him more at 6 he'll grow. He seems to me to be a steady learner who learns one thing at a time. I'm sure Kearney sees him as a permanent back-up 6-cum-utility.

Get used to Hiku/Nikorima because I reckon they are our long-term backup halves.

Some good points

 

[surfin]

It reminds me of the team Ces Mountford developed for Graham Lowe back in the early 80's

I agree. It shows international rugby league is truly the pinnacle and that the Kiwis and England are very close. I reckon the Kiwis would have won down here with an Aussie ref. Not that the ref was crooked but those Wigan fans are both knowledgeable and vocal. The 50/50s were always going to go their way and they did. BTW watching league at Wigan is a real experience, lovely friendly people who just love Kiwis and an ale after the game.

Years ago I was up there, mid 80's when Lowe and the Iro's were part of the team, went into a sports shop to buy a couple of jerseys, you had the option of either a Wigan one or a Wigan one. No such thing as an opposition jersey in the shop.

 

[Old Sid]

Kerney picked the best defensive team he could, and it's got us to No1. So I'm happy with his selections given the injuries he's had to contend with.

Shaun Johnson
Foran
Taumalolo
Eastwood
Mannering
Vatuvai
Leuluai

7 of his first choice players out of action and he still had the balls to stick with his values and leave Benji at home to maintain the teams attitude. He's a great coach IMO..

Nice post Jonno. You can see what Kearney's trying to achieve in spite of the nay-sayers; whats best for the long term good of the team and the jersey, not even trying to save his own skin...

He had every reason to have a go at the ref, but left that one out too. Well done Kearney. Everyone can see what happened, but the team came out of the series with integrity and so did the coaching staff. Not perfect, but respect!

And no injuries for our Warrior boys it seems... sweet!

 

[bruce]

Years ago I was up there, mid 80's when Lowe and the Iro's were part of the team, went into a sports shop to buy a couple of jerseys, you had the option of either a Wigan one or a Wigan one. No such thing as an opposition jersey in the shop.

It is a real league town Wigan. I heard tell that the big factories used to have a massive increase in production on the Monday after a Wigan win. How much would they have paid Wigan to help with the win bonuses? The weather is cold and damp though but lovely people and if you love league as much as we all do it is well worth a trip. Not that easy to get to though, it is a transfer on the train from Manchester.

 

[gREVUS]

Wasnt Benji Marshall's omission due to the senior group of players voting him out? Didnt it all start with Keiran Foran vowing to never ever play for the Kiwis again while Benji was in the team after Benji went well off the game plan and played for himself? Doesnt that leave Mooks and the selectors in an impossible possession? Select Benji but risk the wrathe of a handful of top line players...

this is all news to me, are you saying that the Kiwi team is burdened with player power telling the coach who to pick?

I still feel that Benji today is a different player to then, a more humbled player IMO. less likely to run off to do his own thing, more likely to play to the strengths of the people around him. IMO Rugby Union humbled him big time.

 

[mode81]

My point is people show passion in different ways. Is Wayne Bennett passionate?

Yes Wayne Bennett is passionate about coaching he wouldn't be in the coaching business if he wasn't, does he show that emotion through television? no he doesn't he looks like a grumpy old fart.

All it was, was an observation of Kidwell showing emotion towards the end of the test, that doesn't mean Kearney is any less passionate just because he doesn't show emotion.

 

[mode81]

this is all news to me, are you saying that the Kiwi team is burdened with player power telling the coach who to pick?

I still feel that Benji today is a different player to then, a more humbled player IMO. less likely to run off to do his own thing, more likely to play to the strengths of the people around him. IMO Rugby Union humbled him big time.

I think that's one of if not thee major reason why Kearney never picked him because he turned his back on the game and went to rugby.

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

Kieran Foran pffft SBW's energy drinking pill taking side kick has got a cheek having a hissy fit saying he wouldn't play alongside Benji.

That shit is borderline amateur attitude, get the fark over it and do what's best for the team not your own agenda.

Benji is most definitely a different player these days, he's a far better player. He is more mature, team orientated, he doesn't go away from team structure, he polled well in the Dally M's this season, a totally different attitude.

He would have put the polish and structure on our final plays, repeat sets, not to mention his threat when taking it to the line.. the amount of clueless play and tactical kicking was unbearable to watch. In hindsight was it a mistake leaving him home? Yes it was, it was a bad mistake and it cost us this series.

 

[phil.kingston]

Kerney picked the best defensive team he could, and it's got us to No1. So I'm happy with his selections given the injuries he's had to contend with.

Shaun Johnson
Foran
Taumalolo
Eastwood
Mannering
Vatuvai
Leuluai

7 of his first choice players out of action and he still had the balls to stick with his values and leave Benji at home to maintain the teams attitude. He's a great coach IMO..

lol...if anyone read your comments without following the series they'd think we just won the series...he left Benji and lost the series...yea, he really is a great coach. Is there an award for international coach of the year? If there's one, I'd give it to him