New Zealand Kiwis and North Queensland Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo remains hopeful his club coach will join him on the international stage for the end-of-year Rugby League World Cup.

In the aftermath of Friday night's 30-12 Anzac Test defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos, Taumalolo endorsed the New Zealand Rugby League's decision to approach Green about becoming one of coach David Kidwell's assistants with the national squad.


"If they can get 'Greeny' in it would be a massive help," Taumalolo said.

"Me being under his coaching regime at the Cowboys, I have noticed first-hand how good he is as a coach, he really brings out the best in players and he knows what he is about.

"A lot of his work is around young players and their ability and talent to play football.

"If we do get him it would be a huge boost for the team and for our playing structure."

Taumalolo confirmed Green, whom he won an NRL Telstra Premiership with in 2015, had spoken to him about the NZRL's approach, but expected he wouldn't make a decision until later in the year.

The Kiwis have now gone nine-straight Tests without scoring more than 18 points, while they have kept a team to fewer than 14 points only once through that same period.

According to Taumalolo, Green could help provide answers to New Zealand's woes on both sides of the ball. 

"Definitely both [attack and defence], we have leaked some points and in the NRL competition I think he practices the system pretty well, his structures, he is definitely no nonsense in that department," Taumalolo said.

"In attack he knows what he is doing, he knows how to break down teams and go from there.

"I definitely think he would be a valuable asset in both areas. Greeny has obviously done that in the NRL competition and won a competition. 

"I am hopeful that if he does take up the job that he can do that at international level too.

"It would be a great boost to see him helping us."

Meanwhile despite New Zealand suffering their fifth-consecutive loss to Australia on Friday night in Canberra, and their fourth loss in six games under Kidwell, fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck backed his coach to take the team through to the World Cup. 

"This has been my first campaign with him as head coach and I really enjoyed camp with him and what he had to offer," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"I am hoping he can stay on and we can take on the World Cup.

"We were very confident [before the Australia match]… we had a really good plan going in, a simple plan, and we just didn’t get into the grind in that first half."