New Zealand Rugby League chairman Ray Haffenden has refused to guarantee the position of beleaguered Kiwis coach Gary Kemble.
After a tumultuous week during which Kiwis captain Roy Asotasi and former skipper David Kidwell declared New Zealand's World Cup hopes nil under Kemble, suspicion is growing that today's NZRL board meeting may signal the end for the coach.
Wayne Bennett's role with the Kiwis will be discussed today, and with Asotasi and Kidwell claiming their dramatic revolt had the support of senior players, Kemble may be asked to step aside for Bennett to take the top job.
Kemble is in Sydney for crisis talks with "senior" Kiwis players, but with Asotasi and Kidwell flying to the United States with the South Sydney team, there are few players that fit that category.
Kemble is not speaking and Haffenden said yesterday that he had not had any feedback on how the talks were progressing.
Presumably Kemble is attempting to gain the support of superstars Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall, who were not on the disastrous European tour - something Haffenden couldn't confirm.
"I have had none [feedback from Kemble] at all," Haffenden said.
"I had hope we'd have something before then [board meeting] or during then or at the end of the day."
Haffenden said Kemble would remain in Sydney for "as long as it takes".
Graham Lowe's position at the NZRL would also be discussed today, though Haffenden was confused as to where rumours that Lowe was about to be sacked had come from.
"I don't know where that came from, that is not even important. Graham at this point in time is our football manager," he said.
"That's up to the board to talk about and decide on."
Haffenden had said earlier this week that Kemble was "100 per cent" safe as the Kiwis' World Cup coach, but asked yesterday whether that still applied, said: "I'm not prepared to talk about that [Kemble's job security] because that is an internal thing.
"A number of issues will be raised [at the board meeting] I'm sure and the structure of the Kiwis will be one of them.
"We're still in the review process I guess in terms of what Gary comes up with in his review."
Lowe, who led the tour review and recommended the board reappoint Kemble, had not consulted Kiwis players for their opinions.
Haffenden admitted Kemble may not have any new information for the board today.
The chairman has conceded that widespread dissatisfaction among Kiwis players would force him to reconsider Kemble's position but "I don't make decisions on my own, it's through the board and I don't think there's a number [of upset players] that can be stipulated.
"We've got concerns over what's happened this week but the main concern is that players went against what I'd told them and went their own way.
"If there's other people involved [in the revolt] maybe that will come through in Gary's review."
Haffenden admitted that Asotasi and Kidwell were proud Kiwis who wanted success at the World Cup.
"They felt they were doing the right thing, and to be fair to them that's what people do.
"I pointed out to them the errors of their ways in terms of where we are and what we're trying to do and I'm sure they took that on board."
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