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Legendary Australian coach Wayne Bennett won't return to his mentoring role with the Kiwis, with Tony Iro today named assistant to New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney.
Bennett, 59, worked alongside Kearney as a coaching and management adviser throughout 2008, culminating in New Zealand beating the Kangaroos to win the World Cup for the first time in its 54-year history.
The long-serving Brisbane Broncos coach told the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) he won't continue in the role this year as he concentrates on his new job as St George Illawarra's coach in the National Rugby League.
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden said Bennett's decision was understandable, adding the board was delighted Iro could take up the job.
"Wayne said one of his objectives was to assist us in winning the World Cup," he said in a statement.
"He has achieved that and he said he was very grateful he had the opportunity to be involved. His focus now is on coaching the Dragons and that will take up all his time.
"We're forever grateful for the fantastic contribution Wayne made to the team and to the game as a whole while working with Stephen last year. We'll mark that appropriately at a later date."
It is a return to the role for Iro, 41.
The 25-test Kiwi from 1988-98 had the assistant's role with the Kiwis in 2006-07 and was also the New Zealand A coach in 2005-06.
He is about to enter his second season as the New Zealand Warriors' National Youth Competition coach and was looking forward to his return to the international stage.
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the New Zealand team after what happened last year," Iro said.
"Stephen has shown what a great coach he is already but, like him, I want to see New Zealand perform consistently well against Australia."
Iro's first assignment will be this year's Anzac test against the Kangaroos on May 8 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane - the scene of the Kiwis' World Cup triumph.
That will be followed by the Four Nations tournament in England and France in October-November.
Kearney echoed Haffenden's comments about Bennett's contribution.
"I don't think you can really say enough about Wayne's gesture in making himself available to work with us last year," Kearney said.
"He was a tremendous help to me personally and to everyone else in our squad. I know he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we all felt the same way about having him involved with us.
"I fully understand Wayne's reasons but it's also exciting to have Tony coming into the group.
"We have strong links from when we played test football together in the 1990s and I've also watched with great interest since he moved into coaching."
- NZPA
