Former New Zealand international Tony Kemp has called out some of Michael Maguire’s selection calls following the Kiwis’ 16-14 semi-final loss to the Kangaroos.
New Zealand went into the World Cup ranked No.1 in the world but were given a scare by Fiji in the quarter-finals and then knocked out by Australia the next week.
Speaking on SEN, Kemp — who played 25 Tests for New Zealand — declared: “This one we let get away, we should have won it.”
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He also put the onus on coach Maguire’s and questioned the use of his forwards.
“I think there were crucial decisions (that could have been made) on replacing players at the right time and starting players,” Kemp said.
“Such as (starting) Moses (Leota) for Jesse (Bromwich), I think they would have got it.
“Imagine that, New Zealand versus Samoa in the Grand Final, Auckland would have come to a standstill.”
Maguire was “gutted” over the result but was able to find some positives — like that New Zealand’s performance showed the rugby league world that they were finally on par with the Kangaroos.
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However Kemp hit back, claiming the Kiwis have been “with Australia since 2008 not 2022”.
“One of the comments that I really don’t get is that I heard Maguire say after the match that, ‘We’re there now with Australia’,” he said.
“We’ve been with Australia since 2008, not 2022, this hasn’t happened in three years.
“We had a really poor time under David Kidwell, that wasn’t Kiddy’s fault, that was the organisation which was in turmoil — they were run by a very average CEO that was making poor decisions.
“But the Kiwis team have been next to Australia since 2008.”
Australia will take on Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup Grand Final on Sunday morning AEDT, while New Zealand head home empty-handed.
