"Jacko" Back at Helm of Kiwi Ferns 25 Sep 2015
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
"Jacko" Back at Helm of Kiwi Ferns
Incumbent Alan Jackson has been
retained as NZ Kiwi Ferns head coach for 2016 and now has a
chance to select his first squad from this weekend’s NZRL
National Women’s Tournament in Rotorua.
Jackson guided the Ferns to a 22-14 loss against the Australian Jillaroos in the Anzac Test curtain-raiser at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in May, but did so with an inherited roster.
With new assistant coach Grant Pocklington, he will cast his eye over the talent available at Puketawhero Park over the next three days, as preparations begin for next year’s trans-Tasman fixture.
Last year, Jackson guided Central Vipers to surprise runner-up finish at the tournament, eventually falling to Counties Manukau Stingrays in the final.
Looking back, how do you summarise your first experience in charge off the Kiwi Ferns?
Jackson: “Well, we lost, but apart from that, it was a great experience to play at Suncorp in front of all those people.
“I thought we performed quite well, even though we didn’t get the win. Australia have really started to put some more energy and resources into their women’s game and are starting to set the bar quite high.
“That’s a challenge for us going forward.”
What are the strengths of the Kiwi Ferns programme?
Jackson: “I think, with the NRL Nines and the Anzac Test on TV, there’s a lot more interest and respect for how women play the game.
“We see that, this weekend, with Wai-Coa-Bay fielding a team for the first time.
“Our women have great skill and passion for the game, and the level they showed, especially at the nines, was higher than some people give them credit for.”
OK, so what are the work-ons? What do we need to improve the match the Australians?
Jackson: “For the Anzac Test, our season had only just started, so we were short of match fitness and probably general fitness right across the board.
“The Aussies put us under pressure and some of our players hadn’t been put under the pump before, so they need to learn how to handle stuff like that.”
Specifically, what will you be looking for this weekend at the national tournament?
Jackson: “I’d just like to see some people put their hands up to play for the Kiwi Ferns and I’m sure I will.
“I’m going into the tournament with an open mind, so I’ll be looking for whoever wants to play for the team. Whoever puts their hand up will get an opportunity.”
What are the big differences between coaching men and women?
Jackson: “I find the women really receptive to new ideas and their skill level is better than a lot of men I’ve coached.
“They’re very good footballers.”
We’ve seen several women use the Kiwi Ferns as a stepping stone towards international rugby union careers. Is that a positive or negative for league?
“That’s just something we have to live with – that cross-code swapping happens in the men’s game, as well as the women’s game.
“There are obviously quite a high number of women who play both, but hopefully, with the 2017 Women’s World Cup being played in New Zealand and Australia, we can swing that movement the other way.”
Download NZRL Women's Nationals " Between The Lines" newsletter here
NZRL
NATIONAL WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
Puketawhero Park,
Rotorua
Friday, September 25
10am
Akarana Falcons v Canterbury, Puketawhero 2
Referee -
Gina Te Rongomou, touch - Tane Kaiwai & Henare Chadwick
Counties Manukau Stingrays v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions,
Puketawhero 3
Referee - Antoinette Grootjans, touch -
Graeme Hll & Taylor Waenga
Central Vipers v Wellington
Orcas, Puketawhero 4
Referee - Maxine Godinet, touch -
Rochelle Tamarua & Justyne Lui
12.30pm
Auckland Vulcans v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions, Puketawhero
2
Referee - Henare Chadwick, touch—Antoinette Grootjans
& Taylor Waenga
Counties Manukau Stingrays v Akarana
Falcons, Puketawhero 3
Referee - Rochelle Tamarua,
touch—Justyne Lui & Maxine Godinet
Central Vipers
v Canterbury, Puketawhero 4
Referee - Graeme Hll, touch -
Tane Kaiwai & Gina Te Rongomou
3pm
Auckland Vulcans v Counties Manukau
Stingrays, Puketawhero 5
Referee - Taylor Waenga, touch -
Rochelle Tamarua & Tane Kaiwai
Wellington Orcas
v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions, Puketawhero 3
Referee - Gina Te
Rongomou, touch - Justyne Lui & Graeme Hll
Central Vipers
v Akarana Falcons, Puketawhero 4
Referee - Antoinette
Grootjans, touch - Maxine Godinet & Henare Chadwick
5pm
Auckland Vulcans v Wellington Orcas,
Puketawhero 1
Referee - Rochelle Tamarua, touch - Justyne
Lui & Gina Te Rongonou
Canterbury v Counties Manukau
Stingrays, Puketawhero 2
Referee - Maxiine Godinet, touch
- Antoinette Grootjans & Taylor Waenga
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more