Kemp expects to be cleared of comments 

New Zealand Warriors coach Tony Kemp expects to be cleared by the NRL over comments he made in relation to referee Tony Archer following his side's loss to North Queensland.

The NRL is investigating remarks Kemp made about Archer's performance after his side's 22-32 defeat in Auckland on Sunday.

The Warriors were on the wrong side of an 11-7 penalty count.

Kemp said he wasn't concerned the NRL was looking into what he said at the post-match news conference.

Asked whether he expected any censure from the NRL, he replied: "None whatsoever."

However, Kemp also said the number of penalties the Warriors had conceded over the past fortnight was an area his team needed to address.

In their second round win over Brisbane, the count against them was 12-9.

"It's an area we need to work on if we're to be in games at the end of it," he said.

Kemp had told the post-match news conference last Sunday: "You had a guy out there who killed a game of rugby league today."

The NRL is seeking television footage of the conference and Kemp risks a fine if he is found to have breached the league's policy on what can be said about match officials' performances.

The tape, which was to have arrived at NRL headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday, has been delayed until Thursday.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said criticism of referees was allowed, but coaches could not question their integrity or make unsubstantiated personal attacks.

Meanwhile, Kemp was happy with the appointment of top English official Russell Smith for the Warriors' home match against South Sydney this Sunday.

Smith, who will be refereeing in the NRL for at least the first 12 weeks of this season, was also in the middle when the Warriors beat the Broncos in Brisbane.

Kemp praised NRL bosses for having the "foresight" to invite Smith to Australasia.

"I think he has been a shining light for the NRL," he said.

"He's been one of the best referees in the competition."