Before getting on to a 'what now' discussion with regards to the decision to ban Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor from the World Cup, this whole situation is rather complicated and the following is the best way to sum it up:

Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor are suspected of doing cocaine, no arrests or criminal conviction.

Not ideal. International representatives should be operating at the highest level, from nutrition to lifestyle which is why it's so weird that we celebrate teams who implement alcohol bans; duh, y'all are professionals and all.

But, neither Bromwich or Proctor have been convicted.

How ironic that alcohol is blamed as starting all of this, whether correct or a weak excuse, it's just funny how alcohol is often to blame.

Both won't be allowed to represent Aotearoa at the World Cup and as the Kiwis and NZRL have standards they want to uphold, then so be it.

David Kidwell isn't quite coaching at the standard we want to uphold, however I can confirm that he will be representing Aotearoa as coach of the Kiwis at the World Cup.

The punishment handed out by Melbourne Storm to Bromwich is two weeks. Okay that's their decision, there's a weird disparity between a two week suspension, plus extras and the six month suspension handed down by NZRL.

Sure the Kiwis won't play again until the World Cup, but given that Bromwich is a respected veteran in both teams, the difference between the two punishments is odd.

The NZRL or Melbourne Storm didn't even drug-test Bromwich afterwards, so there's not a whole lot of hard evidence here; they may have been snorting salt.

Why did two respected veterans of Te Iwi Kiwi feel the need to apparently partake in such actions? Bromwich and Proctor strolled into the Kiws as younger players and quickly established themselves as near-certain selections, now they are leaders. So why did such leaders feel like deviating from utter professionalism, was all good?

By signing off on a what I consider a slightly excessive ban, Kidwell made a clear cultural statement. I view it as slightly excessive, but I can respect the desire behind the punishment.

With such a punishment, Kidwell is laying a 'cultural line in the sand' (cultural in terms of team culture etc).

Will every minor and major indiscretion be held to the same standard?

Why does there need to be a line in the sand? If Te Iwi Kiwi is so strong, then why is this even remotely possible?

That coincides with Australia re-establishing themselves as head and shoulders above the Kiwis under Mal Meninga; one team's stocks (culture + skill) has risen, the other's has fallen through the floor.

From every angle this is weird and meh.

Let's figure out the ramifications of not having Bromwich and Proctor in the Kiwis World Cup squad. Wait, screw the World Cup squad; Bromwich and Proctor would start in a World Cup final, so these are major ramifications to the top-17.

Or are they?

Without Proctor, a selection conundrum becomes far easier to solve. Tohu Harris will return asap for Melbourne Storm and he should slot on to the Kiwis left edge come World Cup time, pushing Simon Mannering over to the right edge - where I think he's his best. Mannering was kinda the odd man out as Jason Taumalolo has to start at lock and we had Proctor, Harris, Mannering and Manu Ma'u competing for a few spots.

Mannering started this Test on the left as Harris wasn't available, so he'll simply jump across to the right. Harris on the left, Mannering on the right, Ma'u lurking for a bench spot.

Funnily enough, Russell Packer was immense in his return to the Kiwis and his rise coincides with Bromwich's downfall. Packer could now start alongside Adam Blair and this opens up the door for a plethora of big boppers to compete for two spots (I like having Ma'u as the third forward). Martin Taupau has one of those bench spots, or he could possibly start with Blair coming off the bench.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona was ruled out just after being selected and I'm certain that he will be influential at the World Cup, especially in beating Australia. Asofa-Solomona oozes x-factor and just 10 minutes before half-time could lead to a few offloads, line breaks or a basic carry that gets the Kiwis rollin'. Australia owned Aotearoa through the middle and Aotearoa needs some size to counter that.

Other than NAS, Joseph Tapine is a middle forward I like and Kenny Bromwich featured on the bench in this Test. Ben Matulino could be a factor later on in the season as well if he can finish his Warriors career on a high.

Bromwich and Proctor walked into any Kiwis team. They deserved that but perhaps that can breed complacency, now we are asked to dive into our well-stocked pool of forwards and pick the best two. Harris' return is perfectly timed with Proctor's departure, while the middle forward battle for Bromwich's spot is wide open.

May the best big bopper win.

All you big boppers out there should drop the shoulder on an add. It's like a donation but you don't pay jack and you help us out heaps.