Kiwi players back Kidwell

New Zealand‘s squad has thrown its support behind coach David Kidwell after their dismal Four Nations final display.

The Kiwis were dominated 34-8 at Anfield yesterday by Australia.

New Zealand has won just one game from five under Kidwell, who was appointed just before the Four Nations began.

Shaun Johnson believes Kidwell should stay on his post.

“The players still have faith in David Kidwell and the coaching staff,” he said.

“It’s hard because your coach delivers you your game-plan and the things you need to focus on.

“As players we went out there and did pretty much the complete opposite.

“I thought the errors, I don’t know many it was in that first 20 minutes, it just put us too far behind.”

Fullback Jordan Kahu said the defeat should not “be on David Kidwell’s back”.

“The players are the ones that go out there,” he said.

“He puts everything in to preparing us the best way he can for the week.

“Our preparation was good, as a playing group not the coaching staff, or any other staff, we just didn’t turn up in the first half.

“It’s down to us, we’re a team. There’s a few boys who have played 30 plus Tests in that team, it’s not down to the coaching staff.”

Forward Tohu Harris said the Kiwis’ players need to perform better.

“It’s not hard to be under a rookie coach like David,” he said.

“He shows a lot of passion for his team and for his country and the players really respond to that. We’ve just got to put it together on the field.

“We have to respond better when we do make early errors like that and back those errors up with a good defensive set.

“David will probably try and shoulder a lot of the blame himself but the players, we were out there on the field and we need to take a good look in the mirror and perform better.

“We’re playing for our country. To put a performance like that on the field is not up the standard it deserves.”