Boredom, booze recipe for Kiwis' disaster

BY AARON LAWTON

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Rugby League bosses have completed a wide-ranging report into why the Kiwis failed in last year's Four Nations tournament.

After the world champion Kiwis missed the final, NZRL football manager Tony Kemp, CEO Jim Doyle and Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney collaborated on a Swot report – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The report was presented to the NZRL board two weeks ago and has identified a number of key issues and recommendations ahead of this year's Four Nations in New Zealand and Australia.

In particular, the Swot report reveals alcohol was an issue for the Kiwis. The report also recommends the players spend more time rubbing shoulders with members of the community.

"The alcohol thing is a problem within most sports," Kemp told Sunday News.

"We didn't identify that there was too much drinking going on, we simply identified that alcohol is a concern, especially during the English part of the calendar.

"You head up to play in England, you're away for a long time and there's not enough activities to do.

"The guys start to get bored so they tend to go out and drink alcohol and that has an effect on performance.

"We saw that as a weakness. We need to keep the players busy and have other responsibilities or things to do for those players who aren't required on any given weekend."

The other major weakness identified in the report was selection uncertainty.

The Kiwis' build-up was disrupted by the fact a number players had to leave a pre-tour camp in New Zealand to return to Australia for team-mate Iosia Soliola's wedding. Other players also had to cancel pre-booked holidays at the last-minute after being named in the side.

"The visibility of the calendar – or lack of visibility more so – was a big weakness for us," Kemp said.

"Players didn't really know what was going or when things were going on in.

"That's one of the major weaknesses we found. But we've already addressed it and in February we sent out a letter to the top 60 Kiwis – guys we have identified as having the potential to wear the Kiwis jersey this year – and we've made the calendar this year, right through to the 2011 Anzac test, visible for them."

The Swot report identified pre-tour planning as a key strength along with the strong "brotherhood" culture within the group.

"We sent Dean Bell (Kiwis football manager) and Don Singe (trainer) up to England before the team went there," Kemp said.

"They had a look at all of the facilities. As a result of their visit, they changed some of them because they weren't up to the required standard.

"The culture of the Kiwis is also one of our biggest strengths. It's a lot different to most other national teams."

The biggest concern for both Kemp and Doyle, however, is what could happen to the Kiwis if coach Stephen Kearney is offered the head coach job by an NRL or Super League club.

Kearney, currently an assistant at the Melbourne Storm and on contract with the NZRL until 2013, could, the report says, be lured away from the national side early.

"Our biggest threat would be if we lost Stephen Kearney and what our progression pathway is for the next Kiwis coach," Kemp said.

"That's always going to be a threat when you have a high-calibre coach like Stephen."

Given the iconic status of the Kiwis in New Zealand, Kemp says there will be opportunities this year for the players to do more community work.

"We think there are big public relations opportunities out there to use the Kiwis more," he said.

"We would also like to do more community activities involving the Kiwis."

As a result of the Swot analysis, the NZRL has already begun to cut back on the number of fulltime personnel involved with the national side. Instead, the Kiwis will look to hire consultants on an as-needed basis.

"What's come out of this is that we are now trying to align the Kiwi team more with the NZRL," said Kemp. "It only makes sense that you have people within this organisation handling most matters rather than external people.

"Of course, you do need external help but our main structure will be a lot leaner around the Kiwis.

"Take the Anzac test, for example. That's a hit and run mission. You fly in on Monday, play Friday and you're home Saturday. There's not a lot you can do in a week.

"The Four Nations, however, is a four- to five-week tournament and you need a lot more specialist help on board for that."

- © Fairfax NZ News