League: Hart steps in as father figure to Warriors

John Hart: Your mission, should you accept it ...

Or something to that effect, to steal the famous old line from the TV series Mission Impossible.

And Hart did. The former All Black coach is now the man behind the New Zealand Warriors league coaches, the father figure if you like, although the club is stressing this will be on a very now-and-then basis.

Significant examples in league must encourage Hart, and the club in general, that they are not on a mission impossible. There have been strong turn-arounds in fortunes for clubs such as the Wests Tigers, who have far fewer resources and advantages compared to the one-city Warriors.

But the usual suspects tend to come through to the finals, and it is now the job of the Warriors to ensure they become a permanent part of that elite group.

Hart has played a pivotal role in the Warriors this year.

The former corporate high flyer has been a member of the board this year, at the instigation of millionaire owner Eric Watson.

He also joined chairman Maurice Kidd and former chief executive Mick Watson in carrying out the review which saw coach Tony Kemp and football manager Bruce Sharrock exit - with Ivan Cleary appointed the new head coach, John Ackland his assistant, Kevin Campion the skills coach and Don Mann the football manager.

Long-time All Black doctor John Mayhew had already replaced Chris Hanna, and Wayne Scurrah is coming in as the new chief executive in place of Watson. Hanna and Watson had quit of their own accord.

The Warriors board this week asked Hart to act as a mentor to the coaching staff, under the title of executive director of football.

Kidd said yesterday that Hart's extensive history in coaching and personnel management were ideal for the job.