League: Fine-points delay 'Bluey' deal

Brian McClennan

The deal to keep Brian "Bluey" McClennan as Kiwis coach through to the next World Cup in 2008 comes down to lawyers arguing over the meaning of words and clauses.

NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson and McClennan met yesterday.

Pearson was adamant the NZ Rugby League wanted McClennan to carry on for the foreseeable future.

McClennan said he was keen "to get something worked out".

There is only one non-negotiable point: the Kiwis coach must live in New Zealand.

"I love living here anyway," was McClennan's response. "You've got to live in New Zealand [to do the job properly]."

Pearson acknowledged that the unknown factor was big-money approaches from the NRL and Super League.

"I would love Brian to continue through with the success he has achieved but we cannot predict what might happen and we would not want to stand in his way."

The contract negotiations came down to "little things", Pearson said, a point endorsed by McClennan.

"Discussions are amicable but we want to make sure everything is right," Pearson said.

The transtasman test on May 5 has been confirmed for Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where a full house of 45,000 seems assured following the Kiwis' Tri-Nations win against the Kangaroos.

"The Aussies used to think their team only had to run out and they'd win," Pearson said.

"Now they need that vocal support."