Rugby League: New league chief brings Aussie-style approach

By PETER JESSUP

The Australian-style thought pattern that gave Gary Freeman the job of Kiwi coach has also led to Barry McAlister being appointed chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby League.

McAlister is more than familiar with the winning Brisbane Broncos.

He was manager for Castlemaine XXXX, and as such was heavily involved in sponsorship and marketing with both the Broncos and the Queensland and Australian Rugby Leagues.

The 54-year-old Christchurch-born McAlister played only a handful of games in New Zealand before going to Western Australia to work in the iron-ore industry.

He was a player, then coach and administrator for South Perth.

McAlister spent most of his working life across the Tasman, "retiring" last year to establish a horse-breeding operation at West Melton, near Christchurch.

He has also worked for harness racing at board level.

The horses will be managed for him when he moves to Auckland next month to begin work for the New Zealand Rugby League.

McAlister wants to see more international contact at all representative levels. He also wants to broaden the player base and thus the competition for spots and the skill level in all grades.

"The World Cup showed that other countries like Ireland can be quite competitive. We need to broaden our opportunities, win some more."

McAlister agreed that the benchmark was still to beat Australia.

The Australians were professional and disciplined at all levels, and he hoped that the insight he had had into their thinking would help lift the game in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, he liked the national Bartercard Cup competition and had been impressed by what he had seen in games.

The NZRL board are still to appoint an assistant to Freeman, two team selectors, the Kiwi team manager, and a Junior Kiwis, Residents and under-18s coach.