Andrew Gourdie: David Kidwell's choice might cost him his coaching career

The Kiwis will face Samoa, Scotland and Tonga in pool play at the Rugby league World Cup.
The Kiwis will face Samoa, Scotland and Tonga in pool play at the Rugby league World Cup. Photo credit: Getty Images

OPINION: When Kiwis coach David Kidwell made the decision to ban Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor from his World Cup squad, he was convinced he was doing the right thing. He felt their involvement in the Canberra cocaine scandal "put the integrity of that jersey on the line". No pun intended, I'm sure.

The full impact of that decision will be revealed over the course of the coming weeks when Kidwell's Kiwis navigate their way through a tournament which has suddenly taken on a new importance for rugby league in New Zealand.

By the end of it, we may find that Kidwell sacrificed his own coaching career with a decision that simply opened the door for others to destroy the integrity of the very jersey he was trying to save.

It is abundantly clear that Kidwell was the intended target of the actions of Jason Taumalolo and some of his Kiwi-turned-Tongan teammates this week, as they chose to turn their back on the Kiwis on the eve of Kidwell's squad announcement.

In a statement, Taumalolo said it was "time to give back... and inspire young Tongan players to chase their NRL goals". But what he didn't say in his only interview on the matter with Brisbane's Courier Mail said so much more.

"Do you intend to play for New Zealand again in the future?"

"I can't answer that at the moment, sorry."

Jason Taumalolo on the charge against Australia.
Jason Taumalolo on the charge against Australia. Photo credit: Getty Images

"New Zealand coach David Kidwell said this week that he has not heard from you personally. Is there a reason why you haven't spoken to him yourself about it all?"

"Sorry, I can't answer that question."

"Do you have any issues with Kidwell or New Zealand?"

"I'm sorry, I can't answer that."

You can, but you won't. Such weakness from one of the most powerful players in the game.

He says he will "always be proud to wear the Kiwis Jersey", but the manner and timing of Taumalolo's actions suggest he has no respect for it. He has certainly insulted Kidwell, but the Kiwis and his now-former teammates as well.

In particular, he's surely done irreparable damage to relationships with the likes of captain Adam Blair, Simon Mannering and Thomas Leuluai - three respected, experienced players who were part of the Kiwis team that toppled the Kangaroos to win the 2008 World Cup. The proudest moment in the history of rugby league in New Zealand seems so long ago.

Ultimately, it's those same players who will be charged with doing what Kidwell intended, and maintaining integrity in the Kiwis jersey. They won't need to win the World Cup to do it - no one can expect that, especially now. 

Kiwis selector Tawera Nikau.
Kiwis selector Tawera Nikau. Photo credit: Getty Images

What this squad of 24 must do now is beat Tonga on November 11 in Hamilton, in what shapes as an all-important day for New Zealand rugby league and the coaching career of David Kidwell. A loss would be a tremendous blow for the Kiwis, from which they would take years to recover. But it's hard to see how Kidwell's coaching career could be rescued if the players who turned on him were able to orchestrate the ultimate victory, and inflict the ultimate embarrassment on the Kiwis coach.

As reprehensible as the actions of Taumalolo and co are, you can't help but wonder how much of this situation was created by Kidwell choosing nobility over pragmatism.

I'm sure a man of integrity like Kidwell doesn't regret his decision regarding Bromwich and Proctor, and hard-line approach to maintaining standards is sure to have had unanimous support from former players and coaches. But if he knew then what he knows now, would he make the same choice again? Come the end of this Rugby League World Cup, we may be left wondering whose actions did the most damage to the Kiwis' chances of victory.

Andrew Gourdie is a Newshub reporter/presenter, and host of Sunday Sport on RadioLIVE from 2pm.