Gary Kemble's position as Kiwis coach effectively remains in limbo after yesterday's New Zealand Rugby League board meeting answered none of the questions raised by Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell's damning criticism.
Kemble flew back to Auckland last night from his Sydney crisis talks with key Kiwis players but neither he nor NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz were talking.
The NZRL board yesterday said that Kemble's position remained unchanged, but it is expected the board will in coming days scrap the controversial Kiwis coaching residency clause and offer Brisbane Broncos guru Wayne Bennett a job.
For now it appears chairman Ray Haffenden was happy for discussions to advance at snail's pace.
In what capacity Bennett would come in has yet to be decided.
"We're not in a position to put a deal together for Wayne, not at this point," said Haffenden after the 712 hour meeting.
"Nothing's changed from where we were before the meeting. We haven't changed anything, we haven't done any more work.
"I just informed the board that I'd been talking to him and that he is available to us should we need him."
Several Kiwis have spoken up in the wake of Asotasi and Kidwell's scathing vote of no confidence of Kemble, with South Sydney teammate David Fa'alogo, who was not on the ill-fated European tour, saying: "There's obviously some senior players who disagree with the decision about the coach. He's obviously not wanted and that's pretty much the end of story."
Brisbane utility Greg Eastwood, who has played under both Bennett and Kemble, said: "He [Bennett] brought a lot to the All Golds game and a lot of the Kiwis respect him and they want him to be a part of the Kiwis team for the World Cup and hopefully it can happen but we'll have to wait and see."
Warriors forward Epalahame Lauaki was reluctant to comment: "Whatever the New Zealand Rugby League's got to do, they've got to do."
Haffenden said a decision on the roles of Bennett and Kemble, who is contracted through to this year's World Cup, had been put on hold till next week.
Kemble would report his Sydney findings to Cordtz, who in turn would report to Haffenden.
"We will meet with Gary early next week to find out what information he has been able to gather after this week's events."
Haffenden said the board did not discuss whether any action would be taken against Asotasi and Kidwell, who said Kemble was out of his depth.
Bennett, who has led Brisbane to a record six National Rugby League premierships, has expressed his desire to help the Kiwis, who Asotasi and Kidwell rated "no chance" of winning the World Cup under Kemble.
The NZRL is believed to favour installing Bennett as a coaching mentor for Kemble but the apparent lack of progress in formalising an offer is baffling considering all parties appear keen.
Kemble has gone on record saying he would prefer to use Bennett as a sounding board rather than a hands-on coach.
But such a system would not appease Asotasi and Kidwell, who are vital cogs in the Kiwis' chances of challenging at the World Cup.
Also confusing is Kemble's seeking out of Nathan Cayless and Sonny Bill Williams to support him, despite the pair not playing internationals last year.
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