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Kiwis slammed as mercenaries by former coach
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’ 44-0 drubbing by Great Britain at Hull on Saturday night 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 58-0 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,” said Bailey.
“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 percent” 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 said.
“He probably believes in what he does but whether he’s right or wrong is another thing.”
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