Does Kearney and Bennett ring a Bell

By RLP 26/2/2008

It's official Steven Kearney is the coach of the Kiwis. He's the man that has the task of returning New Zealand back to the Kangaroo beating days of 2005. But as luck would have it he will not be alone. Wayne Bennett the ex Kangaroos coach will be there in an advisory role to assist Kearny with the biggest challenge of his life, beating the Kangaroos in their own backyard in the Rugby League World Cup.

Kearney is currently the assistant coach of the Melbourne Storm and the under study to Craig Bellamy. To make things even more interesting Craig Bellamy was the assistant coach at the Broncos and under study to Wayne Bennett a few years ago. Bennett actually recommended Kearney to the NZRL as the new Kiwis coach. Bennett more then likely consulted with Bellamy before hand. So to have arguably the best two coaches in the NRL at present endorse Kearney is a huge stamp of approval by any means.

The Kiwis are scheduled to play the Kangaroos on May the 9th at the Sydney Football stadium. This will be Kearney's first real test. It will also be a big test for the Kiwis players who need to gain back confidence and credibility after a disastrous tour of Great Britain and France in 2007. The players have been successful in forcing Gary Kemble to resign from the coaching position. With Bennett's involvement the players have received their wish. Their is nobody else to blame but themselves if they don't preform in May and later in the World Cup.

On paper the Kiwis have the players to beat any team on their day. If they manage to keep players like Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall injury free, watch out! In the past the Kiwis usually don't perform well in one off test matches. This is mainly due to the Kiwis not having access to players based in the UK Super League. If the Kiwis can show that they can win or even be competitive against Australia in May, all will be on track for the Kiwis to make history come World Cup time.

Having Bennett on board will give the Kiwis a psychological advantage over Australia. Most of the Australian players have worked with Bennett in some capacity via the Broncos or the Kangaroos in the past. They know that if anyone can find a weakness in the Australian strategy it will be Bennett. Not to mention that Bennett would love nothing more then to see Ricky Stuart fail in his quest for a Kangaroo World Cup victory. Throw in Kearney and Bell two very passionate Kiwis and all of a sudden you have a dream coaching structure.

Come World Cup time the Kiwis have the chance not only to create history but to put the international game back on track. The media would love nothing more then the hard luck story of the Kiwis team being hit left right and centre in 2007 only to come good against all odds when it really counts. Call it a fairytale or call it a dream but on 22nd of November the Kiwis could at long last have what it takes to be Champions of the World.

2008 Kiwis Schedule

May 25th Australia - New Zealand - Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW, Australia (Centenary Test)

Oct 26th Australia - New Zealand - Sydney Football Stadium, NSW, Australia (World Cup Game)

Nov 1st New Zealand - Papua New Guinea - Skilled Park, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia (World Cup Game)

Nov 8th New Zealand - England - Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (World Cup Game)