League: McClennan to talk extension

The New Zealand Rugby League is enthused with the start-up performance from new Kiwis coach Brian McClennan and will discuss extension of his contract as soon as the Tri-Nations is over.

McClennan was signed in May to complete the remainder of Daniel Anderson's term, with agreement for a review at the end of this series.

After wins over Australia and Great Britain he is a sitter to be retained.

The NZRL will want to appoint its coach through to the end of the World Cup in 2007, and it seems McClennan is in position to settle a deal.

NZRL manager Peter Cordtz said a review was always written in to follow this series but it was now a matter of length of term of the Kiwis coaching appointment.

The league would not want to change coach the year of the All Golds tour and World Cup, and it was hoped McClennan's term would be extended past those.

While in England, McClennan is said to have attracted interest from English clubs. But a condition of the Kiwis job is that the coach remains resident in New Zealand.

The Kiwis were to name their team overnight to play England at Warrington on Monday. Shontayne Hape is hoping the match will propel him back into the test squad.

With Clinton Toopi and Manu Vatuvei both excelling against Britain in Hape's favoured left-sided positions, the clash with England looms as his only real chance to force his way back to the front of the queue.

"It will be good to get out there and play again," he said. "It will be nice to get some more ball this time and hopefully score some tries.

"But it's an important game for all of us. We are all pushing for places, and Brian has told us he'll pick on form. It's good that we can all push each other.

"It has got to be good for our country, but no one wants to be the one to miss out."

- additional reporting NZPA