League: League community rally to support McClennan

Brian McClennan

The New Zealand Rugby League is coming under increasing pressure to reconsider appointing James Leuluai as Kiwi coach.

Last week Leuluai had the support of the majority of both the sub-committee charged with recommending a successor to Daniel Anderson and the NZRL board, which will make the final decision.

But it is now understood they fielded a swagger of phone calls and emails from rugby league personalities this week imploring them to reconsider and go with Brian McClennan because of his superior coaching record.

Leuluai and McClennan, assistants to Anderson, have been shortlisted for the job with former Kiwi and Waicoa Bay coach Tawera Nikau and Auckland Rugby League coaching and development manager Stan Martin.

All four will be interviewed by the selection panel comprising NZRL vice-chairman Selwyn Bennett, board member Keith Burgess and former Kiwis coach Bob Bailey on Tuesday before an announcement is made, probably on June 13.

However, it's a two-horse race with a great deal of support for Leuluai within the corridors of the NZRL but perhaps even greater support for McClennan in the wider rugby league community.

Anderson is believed to have recommended McClennan for the job but is not saying so publicly for fear of it counting against his former assistant.

Those spoken to by the Herald on Sunday, including former internationals Duane Mann, Hugh McGahan and Dean Lonergan, all plumped for McClennan as the best man for the job.

Graham Lowe and Ruben Wiki have also come out in support of McClennan, while the likes of John Ackland and Mark Bourneville are also understood to be in the McClennan camp.

"James Leuluai is a fantastic bloke and I'm sure he's a good coach but he doesn't have the record Brian McClennan has got," former Kiwis forward Lonergan said.

"If they pick anyone but Brian McClennan then they are complete lunatics. Brian stands out as the only choice for the Kiwis coaching job but given the stupidity of decisions the NZRL has made in the past, they will pick anyone but him."

Mann said: "I think either would do a great job but I'm leaning towards Brian McClennan.

"In terms of coaching skills they are very similar but Brian's philosophies on how the game should be played, his style and personality are traits the players would feed off.

"Brian McClennan's coaching influence is far greater than what he's picked up from Daniel Anderson, it's his years with Northcote, Hibiscus Coast and Mt Albert. His coaching record at club level and representative level is better.

"James is a very deep thinker of the game and is great one on one and with large groups."

McGahan said: "If the NZRL's criteria is picking the best coach with the credentials and record then it has to be Brian McClennan. It's obvious that it has to be him."

It's unlikely McClennan would be interested in working as Leuluai's assistant. Graham Norton would be appointed McClennan's right-hand man should he be successful.

Bennett said his committee wouldn't be swayed by what was being said in the media and that they would go for the candidate they thought was the best.

"We aren't scared to make a decision we think is right," he said.

"I have had emails from all sorts of different people. Is it support or is it harassment, some of it?"

There were as many as 11 applicants for the post left vacant by Anderson, who is now with UK Super League club St Helens, with one candidate wishing to remain anonymous.

Bennett quashed rumours that it was former All Blacks and Warriors wing John Kirwan, who was recently sacked as Italy rugby coach.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY