Asotasi leads league mutiny
By Steve Mascord
January 15, 2008
NEW Zealand captain Roy Asotasi last night led a full-scale revolt against Gary Kemble, insisting he and his teammates had no confidence in their Test coach.
In one of the most significant outbursts in the history of the game across the Tasman, prop Asotasi said Wayne Bennett must be appointed to save the Kiwis' World Cup campaign.
Kemble, meanwhile, strongly hinted the comments could cost Asotasi the captaincy and questioned whether he was really speaking for his teammates.
"I am speaking for all of the players when I say we do not have confidence in the coaching of Gary Kemble," Asotasi told The Daily Telegraph after training with South Sydney last night.
"The players who were on the All Golds tour last year also saw how Gary Kemble operates.
"It's not his fault. He was dropped in the deep end. But if you are playing with the best players, you expect the best coach."
The skipper said he and clubmate David Kidwell had already approached NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden about their concerns.
Asotasi - who described Kemble keeping his job as "surprising" after losing his first four Tests - said he did not want to contemplate what might happen if Bennett was not appointed in some role.
Asked if players might boycott the Kiwi team, he said: "We'll just see what happens here first."
Kemble responded by saying those who pick the Kiwi captain would "not be happy" with Asotasi's comments.
He said the giant prop "mightn't have done as well as he could have" on tour and added he would include "off the field" matters in his tour report to selectors.
Asotasi suggested he had his own off-field dosier on the coach which he was holding back if the current campaign on coaching grounds didn't work.
Told of Asotasi's stance, Kemble said: "That's his opinion. That's one player."
Asked if the strained relationship might endanger Asotasi's future as skipper, Kemble said: "It's up to the selectors. I don't think they will be very happy reading these sorts of things.
"The captaincy originated from (Brian) 'Bluey' McClennan. He put him (Asotasi) as captain for the Anzac Test and from then on the selectors thought we needed a bit of stability in that area.
"We didn't have senior players there so Roy, with inexperience, mightn't have done as well as he could have . . . but . . . he improved as the tour went on."
Kemble would not divulge what he would be saying about Asotasi in his report to the NZRL.
"My analysis on each player will cover on and off the field," he said.
Asked whether he expected to be captain this year, Asotasi said: "Gary asked me to be captain for the tour so we are just taking it one game at a time. It's something we all need to discuss."
The NZRL found last month there had been too many officials on the tour, which started at home with a 58-0 loss to Australia, and they distracted the players.
Asotasi said there had been unacceptable behaviour from some officials.
"Myself and Paul Whatuira, as captain and vice-captain, went to management on occasions and addressed anything that needed looking at," he said.
"As players we want to prepare as professionally as possible and we expect the same from the management and coaching staff."
Asked if he had reported any poor behaviour to the NZRL, he said: "No, it's just about the coaching. That might come up later."
The NZRL board meets in Auckland this Friday.
