by RL: COACH KEMBLE GETS HIS CHANCE AGAINST BRITS
LEAGUE BRITAIN NIGHTLEAD
WELLINGTON, Oct 14 NZPA - New Zealand 13 rugby league coach Gary
Kemble will be under the microscope tomorrow night when his team
plays Great Britain in Lower Hutt.
It is the first time the New Zealand league's director of
coaching has had a team of his own this year.
Former Kiwi fullback Kemble was appointed to coach the New
Zealand team in Super League's tri-series against Queensland and
New South Wales but it never eventuated when Justice Burchett's
rulings in the Sydney Federal Court early in the year scuttled
Super League's plans in Australia.
Since then the assistant to Kiwi coach Frank Endacott at last
year's World Cup has been conducting courses and helping others
with teams.
Kemble, who played in 19 tests, said he was looking forward to
tomorrow's game.
"It's great to finally have a team of my own, and the players
are there for us to achieve a good result," Kemble said.
"I suppose there's a certain amount of pressure on me but that's
a lot of what coaching at this level is all about.
"The British have named a strong team so to beat them would be
good for all of us."
In naming Kemble coach for the tri-series the New Zealand league
said they were looking to develop more coaching depth at
international level.
However, in view of the progress Endacott has been making this
year with the Auckland Warriors and the Kiwis it would appear more
logical to also have him guide the tri-series team next year.
Endacott will be at tomorrow's game, and will not name his first
test starting lineup until Wednesday.
The New Zealand 13 promise to provide the tourists with a strong
challenge. Eleven of the 17 are from the Warriors' reserve grade
side which reached the Optus Cup reserve grade grand final.
They include captain Aaron Whittaker, 28, a former Kiwi test
halfback, and past test forwards Hitro Okesene and Tony Tatupu.
Teams --
Great Britain: Steve Prescott, Joey Hayes, Barrie-Jon Mather,
Keith Senior, Jason Critchley, Tulsen Tollett, Tony Smith, Neil
Harmon, James Lowes (captain), Terry O'Connor, Chris Joynt, David
Bradbury, Karle Hammond. Reserves: Jonathan Roper, Mick Cassidy,
Rowland Phillips, Bernard Dwyer.
New Zealand 13: David Murray, Iva Ropati, Anthony Swann, Whetu
Taewa, Richard Stewart, Shane Endacott, Aaron Whittaker (captain),
Brady Malam, Denvour Johnston, Hitro Okesene, Tony Tatupu, Bryan
Henare, Logan Swann. Reserves: Meti Noovao, Mark Faumuina, Jerry
Seuseu, Darryn Avery.
Referee: Denis Hale (Auckland).
NZPA nh
Juiceman
--
Super League
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