League: McClennan thrilled with new Kiwis contract

Brian McClennan was in a good mood after it was announced yesterday he would continue as Kiwis coach. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Brian McClennan was adamant. "I got the job I wanted ... coaching the Kiwis," he replied when asked if he was satisfied with the three-year term through to the 2008 World Cup announced yesterday after protracted negotiations.

The New Zealand Rugby League wanted the Kiwis to remain at the top of the world and he was thrilled to be appointed and excited at the prospect of facing the Australians on May 5 in Brisbane, McClennan said.

The fact Aussie coach Ricky Stuart had turned his back on State of Origin to take the Kangaroos and that Andrew Johns had declared he wanted to play the Anzac game to reverse the poor results he had last year, then retire on a better note, all added motivation.

"I actually ran around the house a couple of times," McClennan said of his reaction to the Johns news. "How much excitement is that going to create, and the Kiwi boys are just going to be buzzing to get into the team."

McClennan's appointment covers the Tri-Nations at the end of this year; the six-game All Golds tour in 2007, which will commemorate the first New Zealand tour to England in 1908; the Anzac game of 2008; and then the World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand.

He said he was fully committed to the Kiwis. His job was to analyse player performance, look at opportunities, work out strategies and team structure, oversee selection and lead them into battle.

He would take a hand in advising other coaches and an interest in both the Junior Kiwis, New Zealand A and other representative teams as part of the process of making sure everything below the Kiwis was solid and being done right. He will continue to coach the Auckland Lions in the Bartercard Cup.

"It's an opportunity to try things we can use in the Kiwi team. It's good to keep your hand in."

There were no prospects of a job overseas prior to 2008.

McClennan was pleased that the Kiwis in the Warriors had played well last weekend and that others in Australia were putting their hands up. He wouldn't breach club confidentiality to discuss the returns of the injured, including Nigel Vagana and Sonny Bill Williams, but said he had received no rejections in his approaches to players. "I can see everyone is very keen."

Brisbane fullback Karmichael Hunt had not been approached but had expressed a change of heart from his earlier desire to play State of Origin, which would have eliminated him from Kiwis contention.

"Karmichael has to be able to look himself in the mirror and say he is a Kiwi" in nationality, McClennan said. "When he does that, we'll take it from there [in terms of selection]. You've got to give him the chance."

Given the injury and form of some players, it looks likely he will need players from England, possibly at halfback and prop. McClennan said he would assemble the best 17 available for May 5 regardless of where they were playing.

Paul Rauhihi, Jason Cayless and Thomas Leuluai have to be in the frame as do second rowers David Solomona and Ali Lauitiiti.

The Kiwis will follow a similar test build-up to last year, settling on the Gold Coast before moving to Brisbane the day before the Friday night test.

* The NZRL will hold its annual meeting tonight, with outgoing chairman Selwyn Pearson to be replaced by his deputy Sel Bennett. Following a postal ballot of the provinces, Christchurch publican Frank Burgess comes on to the board with one more spot open to be filled by appointment. Andrew Chalmers from Wellington, Keith Pitman from Auckland and Peter Douglas of Rotorua remain.

The board will ratify five-year chairman Pearson's continuation in the chief executive role he has undertaken for the past three years, allaying concerns at funding organisation Sparc that he was both boss and board member.