NRL: Iro rules out Warriors return

Tony Iro has ruled himself out of the running to replace Matt Elliott at the Warriors. Photo / Dean Purcell

Former Warriors assistant Tony Iro has ruled himself out the running to replace Matt Elliott as head coach of the NRL side.

Iro was a long-time deputy to Ivan Cleary and Brian McClennan but left the club when he was overlooked for the top job after McClennan was sacked in 2012.

Now Elliott has also been given his marching order from Mt Smart Stadium, the head coaching role is again up for grabs but Iro insists he will remain in his role as at high performance manager at the New Zealand Rugby League.

"At this stage I'm really happy with my role at the NZRL,'' he said. ``I'm not even considering [the Warriors]. I've got a big job to do here and it's all hands on deck.''

Iro did take the reins at the Warriors after McClennan's dismissal, serving two games in charge as the caretaker coach before the club began an offseason search for a permanent replacement.

When Elliott was appointed, Iro decided his future lay elsewhere and moved to the NZRL. While the opportunity at the Warriors has come too soon, Iro said he would keep an open mind regarded a shift back to the top level in the future.

"Anything can happen. I've had a number of role changes over the last 24 months. I'm learning plenty about management and staffing issues but it's rugby league and I'd never say never. I enjoy being involved in football.''

Iro was not the only man to withdraw his name from contention for the Warriors job, with two of the front-runners also ruling themselves out of contention.

Wigan's Shaun Wane had long been touted as a possibility to fellow Sam Tomkins to the Warriors but, while he was off contract this year, he said the timing was not right.

Wane acknowledged he would love to eventually coach in the NRL but revealed he had verbally agreed a new deal with Wigan and expected to sit down with club chairman Ian Lenegan in the coming weeks.

St Helens mentor Nathan Brown also said the timing was not ideal for him to leave England.

-APNZ/Newstalk ZB