The drama surrounding New Zealand rugby league coach Gary Kemble will drag out until next week after he failed to return from Sydney in time to attend Friday's crucial NZRL board meeting in Auckland.
The meeting was expected to address the player unrest over Kemble's recent re-appointment as national coach and detail Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett's role on the NZ coaching staff.
Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell also faced disciplinary action after threatening a player walkout if Kemble was not replaced by Bennett for the 2008 World Cup.
But it became a non-event after Kemble failed to return in time from Sydney where he held crisis talks with New Zealand players in a bid to end the mutiny.
He was expected to fly back into Auckland on Friday night to report to the NZRL early next week.
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden reiterated after the board meeting that Kemble remained the Kiwi coach.
"We discussed the situation in and around the coaching position but, as Gary was in Sydney, there is nothing new we can add on this issue," he said.
"We will meet with Gary early next week to find out what information he has been able to gather after this week's events."
Haffenden said the board did not discuss whether any action would be taken against Asotasi and Kidwell.
And there was no board comment on Bennett's involvement.
Asotasi and Kidwell said this week Kemble was out of his depth and did not have the players' respect.
They also claimed players would switch allegiances and play for Samoa or Tonga at the World Cup if Bennett did not come on board.
But Former Kiwi international Tony Puletua - who played for New Zealand from 1998-2006 before switching allegiances to Samoa - urged the board not to make the situation worse by disciplining the pair.
"I'm still pretty close with the New Zealand guys. Roy and David are passionate guys and when they come out and say something like that they are not speaking for themselves - they are speaking on behalf of all the players," he said.
"I don't think punishing them will achieve anything.
"It's pretty clear what they want and it shouldn't be taken lightly."
Puletua said Kiwi players had told him they felt they had taken a step backwards after the NZRL residency rule forced New Zealand's Tri Nations-winning coach Brian McClennan to relinquish the reins when he left for English club Leeds last year.
Kemble lost his first four Tests as coach but was still reappointed last month.
Bennett had impressed the Kiwis when he took over the national reins for the All Gold's historic clash against the Northern Union in England late last year.
New Zealand and Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall backed the signing of Bennett if the Kiwis were searching for a new coach.
“I think a lot of the players, from what I’ve heard, have lost faith in the coach, but I haven’t really been coached by him so I wouldn’t really know,” Marshall said.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for Wayne [Bennett]. He’s recognised around the world as being one of the best coaches around.
“If Wayne was keen, New Zealand would be stupid not to offer him some sort of role.”
