League: McFadden appointed Kiwis assistant coach

Warriors assistant Andrew McFadden has been named Kiwis assistant coach to work alongside Stephen Kearney. Photo / Getty Images.

Warriors assistant Andrew McFadden has been named Kiwis assistant coach to work alongside Stephen Kearney but there's no room for David Kidwell, who recently applied for the top job.

McFadden, who joined the Warriors in 2013 when Matt Elliott took over as head coach, will work alongside Kearney for the Anzac test in Sydney on May 2.

"We looked at the option of appointing two assistants to share the load with Stephen,'' NZRL high performance manager Tony Iro said. "But with such a short preparation time, we decided to keep things really simple this time. We may reassess that for the Four Nations later in the year.

"Andrew provides a good link with the New Zealand-based players, who have given him a ringing endorsement.''

Ivan Cleary, who assisted Kearney at the World Cup, made himself unavailable due to his commitments as Panthers coach, and Kidwell, who missed out on the head coaching position last month, was another considered for an assistant's job.

"We felt, under the circumstances, Andrew offered more specific experience in the role as offensive coach and was a better fit for what we needed at this time,'' Iro said.

During an eight-year NRL career, the 36-year-old McFadden chalked up 100 games as halfback for the Raiders, Eels and Storm, where he was Kearney's teammate. Since retiring in 2004, he has served as assistant coach with the Catalan Dragons in France and Canberra, before joining the Warriors staff last year.

"I'm extremely excited,'' McFadden said. ``It's a massive honour to be involved with the Kiwis. One thing you learn in rugby league is that your loyalty is to the team you're with at that time.

"When I moved from Canberra to the Warriors, they became my team. Now, it's no different for the Kiwis.''

New Zealand-born Sea Eagles trainer Donny Singe will also join the management team and physio Karl MacDonald will reprise the role he had with the 2008 World Cup-winning side.