Tri-Nations Match 5
New Zealand Kiwis 34 d. Great Britain Lions 4

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: Tri-Nations Test Series

Great Britain Must Sack Noble
Sun November 19, 2006
Great Britain showed tremendous heart in both their matches against Australia, but the failure to miss two successive Tri Nations Finals plus the dramatic collapse in the 2004 Final should see the end of Brian Noble as Coach.

The Lions had the wrong combinations on the field and they clearly don't show the passion and pride that Brian McClennan has installed into the Kiwis outfit. Great Britain hasn't had a decent coach at National level since Mal Reilly and it's been showing in their decline over the last 12 years.

Before Reilly was coach, the Lions hadn't defeated Australia for 10 years and were lagging behind New Zealand. Reilly when he became coach in 1988 installed passion and pride into the Lions jumper and they won a Test in 1988 and nearly stole the Ashes series' in 1990 and 1992 under his control. The loss of Reilly has been the biggest shoes yet to be filled.

Great Britain aren't helped by the standard of Super League and the obsession of clubs to sign second rate Australian players, which does nothing for lifting the standards of the competition and the production of the next International players. The influx of Australian players when the British game was played in the Winter was a positive as many of the top liners headed across and in return we saw many British players make a name for themselves in Australia, including players such as Garry Schofield, Ellery Hanley, Andy Currier, Andy Gregory, Jonathan Davies, Martin Offiah (excluding 1993) and Gary Connolly.

Noble's favouritism towards Bradford and Wigan players showed during the Tri Nations with the selections of the out of form Terry Newton and Stuart Fielden when both players clearly lost their confidence on top of the omission of Warrington's Lee Briers.

When the Lions had the practice match in Newcastle, the standout player was Briers and during the year at Super League level he showed the consistent ability to lead a team around the park. Great Britain lacked direction last night and it was the perfect opportunity for Briers to showcase his talents. Briers has only faced Australia once at International level and it was Briers who inspired Wales to that miracle effort against Australia in the 2000 World Cup.

Newton unfortunately is too slow for an International hooker and the difference James Roby made to the impact of the Lions side when he came onto the field was clearly obvious and highlighted the gap between both Newton and Roby. Fielden struggled for form during the Tri Nations and whilst he was getting the starts, Adrian Morley was warming the bench and Morley is one player that is respected, can fire up a team and has no fear of Australia.

Noble has had his chance to make an impact with Great Britain and failed. The team wasn't as unified or passionate as the Kiwis and Great Britain needs a coach who is free from the club politics, has a good coaching background and more importantly can instil the hunger in the National side and gel them together as one. They need to find another Mal Reilly style coach or their decline will go even further.

Great Britain's demise in the last two Tri Nations must make officials at the RFL wake up to themselves about the development and production of footballers and the over-reliance on second tier or washed up NRL players.

Noble has had success with star-studded sides on paper, but both Great Britain and New Zealand need more than stars to beat Australia. The Kiwis acknowledge that in getting a man like McClennan as coach who has moulded the New Zealand into a very tight unit. The Lions have to now follow suit.



Kiwis take some time out
Wed November 15, 2006
A few days break has been just what the doctor ordered for Kiwis coach Brian McClennan.

The Kiwis disbanded their Gillette Tri-Nations camp for three days after their 34-4 win over Great Britain in Wellington on Saturday.

"Personally it's been a chance to come up for some air," McClennan said. "I'm actually getting to the point where I want to get back into it. I think if everyone feels like this when we get back into camp it's going to achieve its purpose."

The squad and management staff regroup in Sydney today - the only practical solution to the logistics if they were to qualify for the final. They will be anxiously waiting to see the result of the Kangaroos' clash with Great Britain in Brisbane this Saturday.

If the Lions win the Kiwis are out of the final but if the Kangaroos take the victory McClennan's men will defend their title in Sydney on November 25. Either way the next few days in Sydney won't be a holiday for them.

"We'll be preparing as though we will be in the final," McClennan said. "That's all we can do. It's no disrespect to Great Britain, it's just the way it's got to be.

"We have to do this so that if it does work out that we're in the final we're going to be in a pretty good mind set. It's a risk we have to take.

"We've controlled what we can control on the football field and I think we've done a pretty good job over the last four games. I would think the general public would see through our endeavours on the field that we probably deserve to be in the final."

And if they do make the final McClennan admits they'll need to put on a better show than they did in Wellington.

"I thought we were a bit sloppy at times," he said. "The first two sets we didn't even complete. We've got a lot to improve on after our last performance. If we do make the final I think we're going to have to be a lot better than that to even compete with Australia - they're that good. We've got a lot to work on."

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE

Sun November 12, 2006
• Awesome Kiwis back on track
  
Sat November 11, 2006
• Kiwis slaughter one-match wonder Lions
  
Fri November 10, 2006
• International Rugby League Alive and Kicking: McClennan
  
Fri November 10, 2006
• Battle lines drawn in Wellington for Tri-Nations
  
Thu November 9, 2006
• Great Britain Unchanged - Carney named, McGuire misses out
  
Wed November 8, 2006
• Kiwis ready to get down to business
  
Wed November 8, 2006
• Great offer for Wellington's Young League players
  
Tue November 7, 2006
• Kiwis make changes for clash with Great Britain
  
Tue November 7, 2006
• Wiki calls on Kiwis fans to back his boys
  

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