Video: David Kidwell is the right man for Kiwis job – Shaun Johnson

Shaun Johnson (Photosport)
Shaun Johnson (Photosport)

Kiwi playmaker Shaun Johnson believes that David Kidwell is the right man to lead the side into the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The Kangaroos have now won their previous four encounters with the Kiwis, including a 34-8 thrashing at Anfield in Monday's final.

Despite that record, the Kiwis playmaker was adamant that Kidwell should remain the coach.

"He should, yeah definitely," he said.

Johnson insisted the blame for the disappointing performance laid with the players rather than the coaching staff.

"It's hard because your coach delivers you the gameplan and tells you the things you need to focus on - as players we went out there and we did pretty much the complete opposite.

"As a team I think we prepared very well, we were very focused for today.

"We made too many errors and we played a very hot Australian side today."

The 26-year-old lamented the error-ridden performance from the Kiwis.

"The errors - they killed us today, however many it was in that first half it just put us too far behind."

"I think collectively it wasn't just one person – we all contributed to that."

Johnson believed that, despite a draw against Scotland and a one point win over England, the Kiwis deserved to be in the final.

"It was a bit scratchy for us but we earned the right to be in the final today. I definitely believe that, so it's just a pity that we couldn't perform in the way we wanted to."

The Kiwis have one Test remaining in mid-2017 against the Kangaroos before the world cup gets underway in October.

Newshub.