Already forced into one personnel change, coach Stephen Kearney’s forgiving nature will be tested this week as he mulls over whether to give some misfiring Kiwis another chance.
The Kiwis accepted a one-match ban for centre Steve Matai today by pleading guilty to a careless high tackle charge for his 13th minute shot on Kangaroos forward Paul Gallen during yesterday’s 6-30 defeat.
The match review committee headed by former top referee Greg McCallum handed down the charge today, and the Kiwis didn’t exercise their right to contest the charge and risk a longer judiciary ban for their key centre.
It leaves Krisnan Inu or Setaimata Sa as the most likely replacements when Kearney names his side tomorrow or Wednesday to face Papua New Guinea in their pool match at the Gold Coast’s Skilled Park on Saturday.
Halfback Thomas Leuluai’s flat performance attracted the most attention at the Sydney Football Stadium as he and Benji Marshall suffered a big points defeat to gun Kangaroos halves Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer.
Kearney has the option of shifting hooker Nathan Fien to halfback, where he shone f or the Warriors, and recalling youngster Issac Luke.
But Kearney’s initial reaction after last night’s lacklustre, error-ridden defeat was to keep faith with Leuluai whom he anointed as his long-term halfback before the Centenary test in May.
“I don’t think Thomas was out there by himself. We had 17 guys trying to do the same thing in terms of helping the side go forward. I don’t think Thomas is to blame for that,” Kearney said.
Leuluai admitted he’d be looking over his shoulder this week after a performance he labelled one of the worst of his 14-test career.
“I thought I didn’t play too well. I put my hand up, I was pretty bad. I missed a few tackles. Everyone’s going to have stuff to work on, but I thought I was pretty poor tonight,” he told NZPA.
Fien also had a poor game by his high standards in 2008, with his, Leuluai’s and Marshall’s kicking games all below par.
Widespread changes would seem unlikely as Kearney and assistant coach Wayne Bennett look to cement their top combinations early in the campaign.
All players, bar Matai, are available for selection after no serious injuries were reported today.
The PNG match is their only must-win encounter in pool play, and would guarantee them a semifinal spot with three of the four teams from pool one progressing.
A convincing and confidence-boosting win will be crucial, with England looming the following weekend before a likely semifinal rematch in Brisbane on November 15.
“It was poor. With the preparation we’ve had and the team we’ve got, it wasn’t up to standard,” Kiwis second-rower Simon Mannering said of their Kangaroo capitulation.
“I hope the belief’s still there. We’ll look back at the game and realise we missed a few opportunities.
“We didn’t get out of our half too much and turned over a few easy balls and you can’t do it against a side like that.
The Adrian Lam-coached Kumuls’ impressive showing in a luckless 22-32 defea t to England in Townsville on Saturday has added some spice to this week’s buildup in Surfers Paradise.
“I was a little bit surprised it was so close and I think most people were. We’ll have to have a hard week at training this week and prepare ourselves,” Mannering said.
The Kiwis flew to their Queensland beachfront base today and will train at the Gold Coast Titans’ former home ground at Carrara all week.
