KEY POINTS:
It's not known if another prank application from Dutch composer Robert Goorhuis has been lodged but Michael Brown looks at some of the serious contenders to take over from Brian McClennan as Kiwis coach.
The Contenders
Paul Bergman
The skinny: Touted in some areas as
the frontrunner for the job, Bergman is seen as the most qualified Bartercard Cup coach.
He had stints at Papanui in Christchurch and Mackay in North Queensland in the late 1990s and took up a role as Nelson's coach and development officer in 2000.
Bergman was brought into the NZRL system in 2003, coaching the New Zealand Secondary Schools in that year before taking over as Wellington Orcas coach in 2004.
The Orcas have not enjoyed great success but have improved recently and are a good chance of making the playoffs. Bergman also heads the rugby league academy in the capital and last year enjoyed success as Junior Kiwis coach.
Bergman says: "Rugby league has been my life and I now think I'm ready for the Kiwis job."
Gary Kemble
The skinny: Kemble was a rangy fullback who played 19 tests for the Kiwis between 1980 and 1986 before picking up the coach's chalkboard.
Although he cut his teeth with the Northcote Tigers and Hawke's Bay in the Lion Red Cup in the early 1990s and was Counties Manukau boss in 2006, most of Kemble's coaching background is at national level.
He has been Junior Kiwis coach (1994, 1998-99), New Zealand Residents coach (1995), New Zealand XIII coach (1996-97), Kiwis assistant (1995), New Zealand A coach (2002) and was also co-coach with Graeme Norton to prepare the 2000 World Cup squad while Frank Endacott remained at Wigan. He also took the Warriors reserve grade side to the grand final in 1997 and was on the elite coaching staff with the Warriors and NZRL in 2001-02. Kemble missed out on the Kiwis job in 2003 and 2005.
Kemble says: "I want to carry on what Bluey has achieved. I have been involved in the game since I was five years old, I'm passionate and down to earth and I will do everything I can to make the Kiwis succeed."
David Lomax
The skinny: Lomax might not have the most impressive recent coaching records, with his Central Falcons side currently bottom of the Bartercard Cup table, but one of his biggest attributes is the number of quality coaches he played under in the NRL and UK Super League.
That list includes former Great Britain boss Malcolm Reilly and multiple NRL-winning coach Warren Ryan at Newcastle, Tim Sheens at Canberra, present Great Britain coach Tony Smith and former England supremo John Kear at Huddersfield.
Lomax led the Levin Lions to two Manawatu premier titles and is now into his third season with the Falcons. He also guided last year's New Zealand Residents side to victory in the quadrangular tournament.
Lomax says: "I have been around the traps with plenty of top coaches and know what it takes to do well. I have been part of the high performance programme."
Duane Mann
The skinny: A former Kiwis captain and Warriors foundation member, Mann has been involved in coaching and development for more than a decade. He's coaching and development manager for Sport Auckland and the Counties Manukau Sports Foundation, a role that crosses into other sports.
He's coached the Tongan side on and off since 1997, when he was first handed the nines side, and guided the national side to success at last year's Pacific Cup tournament in Auckland.
He had two seasons in the Bartercard Cup with Glenora in 2000 and 2001 and held a high performance position with the NZRL and Warriors between 2003-05.
Mann says: "With the skills, attitude and knowledge I have, I believe I'm the best suited for the job."
Bernie Perenara
The skinny: Perenara has forged an impressive Bartercard Cup record, firstly with Marist Richmond and now as coach of amalgamated side Waitakere Rangers. He took Marist Richmond to the 2003 and 2004 grand finals and his Waitakere side are fourth in the 2007 competition.
In that time, he's brought through the likes of Francis Meli, Jerome Ropati and Motu Tony and claims to have been the one who 'discovered' Sonny Bill Williams ("I told the Warriors three times about him," Perenara said). He was New Zealand Maori coach between 2002-04 and led New Zealand A to a comprehensive victory over their Australian counterparts in 2005. He stepped down from that role last year for personal reasons.
Perenara says: "I wouldn't have got the New Zealand A job [in 2005] if Brian McClennan didn't think I was the best man for the job.
"I have been through the coaching ranks and my record stacks up."
Phil Prescott
The skinny: The former Canterbury Bulls boss is seen as one of the front-runners. After forging an impressive record in Canterbury league, leading Halswell to three titles and two grand final appearances during the 1990s, Prescott became Gerard Stokes' assistant with the Bulls for the 2000 Bartercard Cup season.
He stepped up to the top job in 2002, which proved a difficult season, but turned things around by winning the title in 2003.
Canterbury were second in 2005 and 2006. Prescott is taking a year out from coaching in 2007 but was in charge of the New Zealand A side last year that toppled their Australian equivalents 48-18.
Prescott says: "I have done the groundwork and my credentials are as good as anyone else in the country."
Undecided
Graeme Norton
The skinny: The man known as Natty first came to national prominence when he guided North Harbour to consecutive Lion Red Cup premierships in 1994-95. When the NZRL threw its hat in with Super League, Norton was appointed New Zealand nines coach, winning the competition in 1996 and 1997.
He was also in charge of the New Zealand side in the Super League Tri series against Queensland and NSW. He helped Frank Endacott prepare the 2000 World Cup squad and became McClennan's assistant in 2005.
He stepped down from this role when he took over the Auckland Lions in 2007 for their first season in the NSW Premier League competition. He applied unsuccessfully for the Kiwis job in 2001 and 2003.
Norton says: "I'm going to decide next week [whether I will apply for the position]."
Tawera Nikau
The skinny: The former Kiwis and New Zealand Maori back-rower applied last time but would be an outside shot if he applied again. He coached Waicoa Bay in their first two seasons in the Bartercard Cup in 2004-05 to limited success and also had the reins of New Zealand Maori in the same years. He commentates for Maori television and also does some marketing work for the Rabbitohs and Storm.
Nikau: "I'm pretty busy with work so my timing is probably a bit out at the moment."
Out of the race
Tony Kemp
The former Warriors boss said he was happy as NZRL director of coaching.
James Leuluai
The favourite for the job in 2005 until he withdrew, he said: "I haven't been coaching since 2004 so don't think I'm in a position to do it at the moment. I will look to get back into coaching next year." It's understood the NZRL might try to entice him to apply.
Tony Iro
The former Kiwi will coach the Warriors under-20 side in the NRL competition next year.
Stan Martin
Martin was in the final two (after Leuluai pulled out) when McClennan was appointed but said: "I won't be applying for the job but would consider it if they approached me."
