Kiwis coach David Kidwell resists recalling drugs pair Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor for World Cup

WITH Kieran Foran to skip the Kiwis’ World Cup campaign, pressure is mounting on coach David Kidwell to recall two star forwards. But it won’t be happening.

Jesse Bromwich will have to watch the World Cup from the sidelines.

KIWIS coach David Kidwell has rejected speculation he could recall cocaine duo Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor for next month’s World Cup.

Kidwell has made it crystal clear he will not compromise team standards in search of results and is confident his squad can cope without the two star forwards despite five-eighth Kieran Foran also set to pull out of the tournament.

Jesse Bromwich will have to watch the World Cup from the sidelines.

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Foran played injured for New Zealand Warriors and is now determined to get his body right for next year’s NRL campaign with his new club, the Bulldogs.

Losing Foran would be a major blow to New Zealand’s hopes of toppling Australia for the trophy, but Kidwell is not tempted to overturn the bans imposed on Bromwich and Proctor from earlier this year when the duo was busted using cocaine after the Anzac Day Test.

“I’m pretty firm on my decision from earlier this year, we won’t be reinstating them for the World Cup,” Kidwell told the Daily Telegraph.

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“It was about the integrity of the jersey, and what the players who have worn the jersey before them, and the current crop of Kiwis who are custodians of the jersey, making sure that when we’re out there representing the Kiwi jersey we’re respectful, we’re passionate.

“And we really want to think about the past players who’ve worn that jersey before and represented it with pride and passion.”

Kidwell knows well that ambiguous team standards can only come back to bite a coach – the Laurie Daley sacking after Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson’s drinking session is a prime example.

David Kidwell is sticking to his guns on selection.

Bromwich was to have captained the Kiwis in the World Cup.

He has been a key performer in Melbourne Storm’s grand final campaign while Gold Coast Titans prop Proctor would have also been an automatic selection.

“My firm belief is that you’ve got to be clear on your vision, and you’ve got to have a clear purpose, which I will lay out for the boys when we get into camp,” Kidwell said.

“It just creates another two opportunities for players to step up in that role and going for that purpose of coming together for the Kiwis.

“We’ve got a great opportunity, we’re going to be playing Test footy back in our home country in New Zealand – we haven’t played Tests there in three years.

“Talking to some of the players, they’re really excited and positive about playing in front of their home fans and in front of their family.”

Kieran Foran looks likely to sit out the World Cup as well.

As for Foran, Kidwell hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility the matchwinner could still be part of his squad, but if he fails medicals at the Bulldogs, two Queensland-based playmakers will vie for the Kiwis No.6 jersey.

“I’ve been in contact with Kieran, we’ve had in depth conversations about how he’s feeling, where his body is at,” Kidwell said.

“He’s getting scans through the Bulldogs and we’ll find out more soon.

“Kodi Nikorima, playing for the Broncos, Te Maire Martin definitely comes into the picture as well, so we’ve definitely got some options.”