BRISBANE—Besieged New Zealand coach Gary Kemble has flown to Australia for crisis talks in a bid to end a player revolt after senior Kiwis threatened to switch allegiances.
Kiwi backrower David Kidwell became the second New Zealand rugby league player set to face disciplinary action after ignoring an NZRL warning and slamming Kemble today.
Before flying out to the US for South Sydney's pre-season game against Leeds, Kidwell told reporters the New Zealand players were "100 per cent" behind Kiwi skipper Roy Asotasi's controversial stance.
Asotasi was reprimanded by the NZRL on Tuesday and may be stripped of the captaincy at the league's board meeting on Friday after threatening a player mutiny if Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett did not replace Kemble.
Kidwell also claimed that New Zealand players would consider playing for Samoa or Tonga at the World Cup if Kemble remained coach.
The situation has prompted Kemble to hold crisis talks with players in Australia today.
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden said he was not sure whether Kemble contacted Asotasi and Kidwell before they flew out with South Sydney today.
But Haffenden denied speculation that Kemble would resign if he failed to resolve issues with Kiwi players.
"He's been given free rein to talk with as many players as he wants," Haffenden told AAP.
"We have given this situation the respect it deserves."
"He (Kidwell) told me that a few of the boys are contemplating either going to play for Samoa or Tonga in the World Cup," Nikau told New Zealand's TV3.
"There are a few players looking not to play for New Zealand which is very, very sad.
"They're standing up and saying what they believe in.
"They're pretty passionate about that they're doing. They're prepared to put their Test selections on the line and that's what it's all about."
Asotasi and Kidwell had earlier expressed their concerns about Kemble to Haffenden.
After Asotasi's outburst this week, Haffenden phoned the Kiwi skipper and Kidwell and told them not to air any dirty laundry publicly.
But that did not stop Kidwell delivering a stunning shot at Kemble on New Zealand's Radio Sport today before backing Asotasi's stance at Sydney Airport today.
"We've got a guy like Wayne Bennett who wants to coach us," Kidwell told Radio Sport.
"Why wouldn't we want the best person?"
Asked if there would be a player walkout if Kemble kept his job, Kidwell said: "I won't comment on that. Hopefully it won't get that far.
"If Gary's still coach and Wayne's got a role we'll have to take that."
An annoyed Haffenden today said it was "sad" that Kidwell had not heeded his advice.
But unlike Asotasi - who received an immediate reprimand for his comments - Kidwell won't be dealt with until Friday's board meeting.
"I'm aware of what they have been doing. The sad thing is that they have reacted after we had a discussion," Haffenden said.
"I thought I had nipped it in the bud."
Haffenden said Friday's board meeting would also discuss whether to send an NZRL representative to Brisbane to detail Bennett's role with the national team.
The NZRL are expected to abolish their controversial residency rule for national coaches and offer Bennett an assistant or advisory role alongside Kemble.
Kemble lost his first four Tests in charge - including a record 58-0 scoreline against Australia.
But he was reappointed by the NZRL last month.
The Broncos have already given their blessing to Bennett's Kiwi appointment.
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