On Tour with the 2011 Kiwis

On Tour with the 2011 Kiwis

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

The first day in camp at the Hilton in Liverpool began with the players having a pool recovery session at nearby Lifestyle Everton Park , giving them a chance to loosen up after the arduous flight from Sydney to London and the bus trip to Liverpool . It was followed by a massage session for all players, lunch and some rest or visiting the nearby shops before assembling at 4.00pm to travel to Anfield to watch Liverpool’s English Premier League match against Norwich City . Sitting in the back of the main stand, the Kiwis attracted attention from local fans sitting near them who were keen to pass on their knowledge to the New Zealanders, most of whom were having a first-time experience watching professional football in England . The famous Kop end was typically vocal early on but the verbal output became more muted the further the contest went as Liverpool wasted opportunities on goal, finally scoring right on halftime before Norwich scored in the second half and held on for a 1-1 draw (much to the home fans’ frustration) At the opposite end to the Kop, the Norwich supporters were in full voice throughout the game maintaining an unbroken stream of chants, several of them x-rated. More than one of the Kiwi players would later say they had never heard so much swearing at a sporting event before as Liverpool fans became increasingly incensed with their team’s inability to take the game away from the visitors.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23

Early morning training was on for those wanting to do some extras with the training staff. Breakfast indicated everyone was acclimatising well to their new surroundings and change in time zones. This was the first full-on training day ahead of the opening Four Nations match against Australia in Warrington on October 28. First up for the players was a weights session at the nearby Liverpool John Moores University followed by a video session after lunch and then a field session at the Wyncote Sports Ground when the trainers and coaches worked the players solidly following the time off they’d had plus the travel they’d endured since the match in Newcastle . Ice baths and media commitments followed. By now the 23 players and 10 staff had been split into four teams (orange, green, black and pink) with team members given the appropriately-coloured CanTeen bandannas to wear during all team activities. The team captains selected were Elijah Taylor (green), Russell Packer (orange), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (pink) and Kevin Locke (black). The first activity planned was a dinner out the following night (Monday), the selected team charged with finding a restaurant to cater for the entire party. A budget had been set and the opposing teams would mark them on various aspects of the dinner and the venue including quality, quantity, variety and ambience. Working well (unfortunately for some), was Ruben Wiki ’s fines system – otherwise known as revenue-gathering operation – with players and staff being fined for lateness and other misdemeanours. A healthy kitty had been built up in Australia .

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24

The usual start of extra training and breakfast was followed by a recovery session mid-morning and then the chance for the players and staff to use the afternoon to rest or to have a look around Liverpool . High on the agenda for those who hadn’t done so already was doing a deal to buy a United Kingdom mobile and data package from the array of retails outlets in the city’s central shopping precinct. For many, sorting out a café that served a good coffee was another priority, if a bit of a challenge. For coach Stephen Kearney and captain Benji Marshall there was no rest. They left the hotel after breakfast for Leeds for the media launch of the Four Nations at Elland Road , venue for the final on November 19 and home of the Leeds United Football Club. Also joining them were the other three coaches and captains – Tim Sheens and Darren Lockyer ( Australia ), Steve McNamara and Jamie Peacock ( England ) and Iestyn Harris and Lee Briers ( Wales ). The Kiwis were the first to arrive and the last to leave as they handled countless interview requests, Kearney able to work through his duties in the warmth of a lounge named after Leeds United legend Billy Bremner. Marshall , though, had to put on his playing kit for a photo call in a biting breeze outside on the pitch followed by television interviews. He catered for them all before eventually finding comfort again inside to do more interviews. The other nations had gone by the time the Kiwis headed back to the Hilton, a drive of about an hour and a half. Later BSkyB arrived to capture head shots of all players for its tournament coverage. At 6.30, the bandannas were all being worn for dinner out courtesy of the green team. It was at Viva Brazil just a few minutes away from the hotel. Much as opposition teams hated to admit it, the consensus was the green team had done reasonably well. There was certainly no shortage of food.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25

Like Sunday, this was a double-up training day. After the early morning extras and breakfast, the players had a video session at 9.00, were on the bus half an hour later and were on the training field at Wyncote Sports Ground by 10.00. Contending with a strong – and predictably cool – wind the players were put through a sharp session watched by some local fans, university students and media. Ice baths called afterwards while some of the players had media interviews. Following lunch, the players were back on the bus for a weights session at the same gym they used on Sunday. From 4.00-6.00 the players had massage as well as a signing session followed by dinner in the team room. As is the case daily, the staff met over coffee to run over plans for the next few days.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

As a nominated rest day there was no early morning extras session with breakfast being followed by a stretch session, treatment and lunch before all players and staff were on the bus headed for a team activity – ten pin bowling at the Hollywood Bowl. All bus trips become an event in themselves. The local bus driver isn’t spared. He’s required to tell everyone a little bit about himself, sing a song or tell a joke. If he doesn’t, watch out. Abuse will follow. His driving is also under constant scrutiny, especially his choice of routes to various venues. Running a commentary on the microphone from the front of the bus are senior players Adam Blair and Jeremy Smith. They’re relentless and loud. On this day, the bus pulled up at the venue and manager Tony Kemp got off to walk across the car park to see the centre’s management. Only he was on his own … he’d walked about 50 metres when he turned around and realised the rest of the party had deliberately stayed on the bus. Everyone on the bus was in an uproar when he finally turned around. So to the ten pin bowling. Players bowled in six different lanes, the winners from each lane brought together for the final. Competitive instincts were to the fore, as they always are no matter what the players are doing. Nathan Fien had been among the favourites based on his preliminary form but it was Ben Matulino (green) who was the leading individual with the pink team’s Thomas Leuluai and Stephen Kearney second and third. With two players in the top three, pink took team honours. Later in the afternoon, a media release was distributed naming the Kiwi team to face Australia . Media came to the hotel to interview Kearney about a side which featured the return of Thomas Leuluai and Ben Matulino. Everyone made their own dinner arrangements out of the hotel today.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

Extras and breakfast led into preparation for the team’s final run, this time at the match venue, Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington , about 45 minutes away. A video session soon after 9.00 was followed by another bus trip. Two of the management team had headed to Warrington earlier to set up the dressing room and check facilities but there was some disruption to plans when they were among those told to leave the building after smoke was seen pouring out of an air ventilation duct in the main stand. Two fire appliances arrived moments later to discover the cause was a saucepan which had been left cooking unattended in a kitchen. The fire was doused allowing everyone back into the building just before the Kiwi players and coaching staff pulled up outside the stadium for their training session. The run went ahead without issue, the players unaware there had been any hint of drama. With some local school pupils and media looking on, the Kiwis completed the session without incident, had their ice baths and journeyed back to Liverpool . Stephen Kearney and Benji Marshall had their usual pre-match media conference after lunch, the players having time off in the afternoon. By 6.00 everyone was in their No 1s for the traditional Test dinner, and a special one it was with All Whites and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen the guest speaker. He also handed the players their Test jerseys. This was no ordinary dinner. Far from it It began with another team activity. All teams had been tasked with putting together a team song or chant. The orange team was drawn to perform first and from then on there was no lack of hilarity as the teams rolled out their efforts. Nelsen had been asked to judge the competition and, when the moment of truth came, he courageously but quite correctly rated orange the best. Later the thoroughly personable Nelsen stayed on to chat and mingle with staff over coffee.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

Test day dawned fine but cool. Breakfast was first and there was an extras session in the hotel gym at 9.00 for those not in the Test side. At 11.00 the players met to walk across to a grassed area adjacent to the hotel for some activity, a couple of ball games and a chat. Lunch at 12.30 was followed by the regular hydration test at 1.00 and then time for some rest. A snack was provided at 4.30, the players assembling at 5.25 for some final words and reminders from Stephen Kearney about the game plan. Outside a large crowd of onlookers had gathered as the players boarded the bus. With no traffic problems of note, the Kiwis arrived at Halliwell Jones Stadium about 6.15. Home to the Warrington Wolves is very much a boutique venue with small dressing rooms and a capacity for only about 14,000 fans. As the Kiwis warmed up, one of the spectators seen arriving was Manchester United legend Roy Keane, a well-known rugby league fan, while All Whites and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen was also there with his wife. After an abridged version of the national anthem (no singer) and the haka, it was game on. The Kiwis gave up a 0-16 lead, recovered thrillingly after halftime to trail only 12-16 but eventually yielded two more tries to allow the Kangaroos to win 26-12. Post-match Stephen Kearney addressed the team in the dressing room and the players had ice baths and showered. Kearney had a number of television interviews with rights holders and was then joined by Benji Marshall for the post-match media conference in front of a large gathering of journalists from the United Kingdom , New Zealand and Australia . As the players headed to the bus many stopped to do media interviews while others signed autographs for fans gathered near the bus outside. By 11.30 the Kiwis were back in their hotel for their post-match meal. Also staying at the Hilton for the night were the Everton Football Club’s players and management who were preparing for their English Premier League match against Manchester United at Goodison the next day.

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