New Warriors' coach Brian Mclennan. Photo / Getty Images
There'll be no messing about with talk of stepping stones or development for the Warriors on new coach Brian McClennan's watch: next year's target is the NRL premiership.
"Every year I go in with a team we're shooting for the top. I don't see the point of aiming to come eighth, or sixth, or fourth," the 49-year-old said at his unveiling as Ivan Cleary's replacement on a two-year term yesterday.
And it became clear early on that this was the job McClennan has long coveted. His links with Mt Albert, who were key players in the genesis of the Warriors in the early 1990s, are strong.
He did a stint as assistant coach for the Warriors colts in their inaugural season of 1995, and assistant with the under-19s the following season.
McClennan admitted he returned home from a successful term with Leeds in England's Super League with the Warriors job in mind.
"But I was very mindful of keeping quiet and sitting back on the sidelines," he said. "I did hope that one day this job would become vacant. I thought it would be good to come back, have a year's rest and have a real good look at what's happening in the NRL."
He knows the size of the challenge, and relishes it.
"Challenges are supposed to give you a little bit of fear I suppose. But I feel buoyed."
He recalled that when he got the Kiwis job he had his doubters; ditto when he signed on at Leeds. On both occasions "I got the job done".
"So I've learned from those experiences, but at the end of the day it's still a game of footy, and if you work really hard, do a good job, it'll all take care of itself."
There is a homespun touch to much of McClennan's talk about league, which should not disguise a clever mind, with a knack of pushing the right buttons.
He cuts through technical clutter of what coaching is all about.
"I feel a lot of it is common sense and I think I've got a bit of that. On my days off I'll sit down and watch footy. I watch every game, it's in my blood and it's what I love doing."
He likes to think he's got an ability to get others around him to buy into a collective sense of responsibility "all rowing in the same direction".
He insists he possesses a ruthless streak.
"You have to. Coaching's a ruthless business. I'll do whatever it takes.
"Quite often you say to players you want them to be ruthless, not reckless and the best way to coach is to lead by your actions."
McClennan stayed away from player talk yesterday. That's for another time but he clearly likes the look of the squad.
His perceptions have been from the outside looking in and while that still remains a useful tool, he wants to sit down with those close to the action.
"It's important to get to know what the players are like in training and character-wise, so we'll look into that a bit further down the line."
There were no other announcements yesterday, although expect Cleary's support men, John Ackland and Tony Iro, to be part of the mix.
Both were in the frame for the top job, and chief executive Wayne Scurrah said they have signalled they still want to be part of the club, and they know McClennan and his methods well.
McClennan is delighted at the shape the club is in, situated well inside the top eight, on a roll and flush with quality younger players.
"Now it's a matter of making sure we keep that progress [going] and how much we can accelerate that."
BRIAN McCLENNAN
Age: 49
Coach or assistant coach at Hibiscus Coast Raiders and Mt Albert between 1992-06, New Zealand 2005-07 and Leeds Rhinos 2008-10.
* Four times winner of Bartercard Cup grand final with Hibiscus Coast and Mt Albert.
* Led NZ to Tri-Nations title in 2005.
* Twice won Super League grand final, and world club championship, with Leeds.