League: McClennan deserves job

Brian McClennan meets the media yesterday. Picture/ Kenny Rodger

The New Zealand Rugby League has made the logical and correct decision in backing Brian McClennan as its coach through to the next World Cup in 2008.

McClennan, named yesterday to succeed Daniel Anderson, was clearly the best-qualified applicant in terms of coaching experience, ability and success, and he has a rapport with the players after working with Anderson in recent campaigns.

It was a relatively painless exercise after main rival James Leuluai notified the board late in the process that he would be withdrawing because of family and business commitments.

The assistant coaching position is yet to be finalised, but McClennan is clear that he wants former World nines-winning coach Graeme Norton as his aide. McClennan described Norton yesterday as being ahead of other candidates "by some way", though the position has to be approved by the NZRL board.

McClennan's appointment brings the Kiwis coaching wheel full circle. His father, Mike, should have had the job many years ago after success with St Helens, but internal politics reigned.

Brian McClennan said yesterday that his father was an inspiration to him and had been his mentor.

The younger McClennan has proved his worth as a coach in the Bartercard Cup after a long playing career where he was one short of top-level, but always the game-runner in the halves.

Norton was his coach at the Northcote club and McClennan the captain as they won an Auckland title.

After playing in England and at Northcote, McClennan moved to the new Hibiscus Coast club, took it to the Auckland Fox Memorial title and promotion to the Bartercard Cup, where he won the title.

He shifted to the Mt Albert Lions in 2003 and they were beaten grand finalists. Last year the Lions won under McClennan's leadership.

It's the sort of pedigree that suggests he knows what he's doing.

"I'm confident in my own ability," he said, pleased with a rap from Kiwis skipper Ruben Wiki, noting him as best of the contenders.

But he is well aware he has to earn the respect of professional players who may doubt his ability to come from an essentially amateur competition with the right ideas.

He said he was lucky to be surrounded by people steeped in the game and would benefit from their knowledge.

McClennan said he was big on "us" and "we" rather than "I", and would involve key players in the style of game pursued and other matters.

He would start dialogue with Kiwis contenders for the Tri-Nations in October-November immediately with the aim of building a team culture and spirit.

NZRL selection panel chairman Sel Bennett said the job would involve some of the elite player development work in other grades that had been undertaken by Anderson, with details to be settled.

Bernie Perenara, who was the beaten coach two years running in the Bartercard grand final, has been appointed to the New Zealand A team coaching job that had been McClennan's.

Yesterday's decision was accepted with widespread relief in league circles. There was general agreement that the board had chosen the right man, as well as following its own line of succession.

McClennan comes in at a good time.

Only two of the "old guard" are left in the side - Wiki and Nigel Vagana - which gives him the chance to mould the future.

There is plenty of hope in the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Frank Pritchard, Benji Marshall and Bronson Harrison. But the fact remains - the Aussies have six players to every one New Zealander.

Brian McClennan

Born February 16, 1962, in Auckland.

Junior club: Mt Albert.

Mt Albert Lions: 1980s, three Fox Memorial titles.

Northcote: 1989-90; Fox and National Champions 1990 with McClennan as captain from five-eighth. Auckland captain, beat Great Britain tourists. Two Kiwis trials, 1990.

Hibiscus Coast: 1992 player-coach, coach 1993-01. Promoted from third grade, Won Fox Memorial, promoted again to Bartercard Cup.

Mt Albert: 2003, Bartercard semifinalists. Won the Bartercard in 2004.

Kiwis: Assistant coach 2004-05.