Graham Lowe: Coaching package combines brains and know-how

The Warriors continue to ring the changes after another disappointing season, and this time they've opted for a combination of league extremes - the commerce graduate and the grassroots guy in the cloth cap.

Ivan Cleary has the degree from Sydney University and his new assistant, John Ackland, is a graduate from the school of hard graft who is also intelligent enough to have earned his own university double degree.

Ackland is probably the most highly regarded of all the staff by the grassroots of the game in Auckland.

Cleary looks a million dollars in a well-cut suit; Ackland's familiar cloth cap is a throwback to northern England days when no decent man from the pits would venture out on a weekend without one.

The appointment of Cleary to take over from Tony Kemp will not surprise anyone.

Cleary and Kevin Campion were brought into the club as assistant coaches and there was immediate speculation that Cleary would take over from Kemp. I said at the time that it was a very unhealthy environment for Kemp to work in.

The combination of the two augurs well for the Auckland-based side with intelligence, knowledge and a feel for the New Zealand game all wrapped in one package. These two should be able to produce a team that can get the business done on the field, and it is heartening to hear from the new chief executive, Wayne Scurrah, that he will not take an active role in the football side of the business.

But I must admit I thought the results of the past two years would have activated a bigger cleanout than just Mick Watson and Kemp.

The Cullen Sports board has again gambled on inexperience. But taking that into account, there is a fresh look about the decision.

Although the club is not in a position to attract top NRL players in the market, there is still a wealth of players there who will respond to the right coaching. And in my view, coaching is what's been at the heart of the Warriors' problems.

Cleary and Ackland have strongly complementary talents, and Campion is the new skills coach. The troubled club has chosen the best team available from the cards it had to play.

Followers of rugby and league will watch with interest the role of former All Black coach John Hart, who has taken on the job of executive director of football.