League: Cleary won't stay on as Kiwis assistant

Ivan Cleary. Photo / Getty Images

Ivan Cleary won't be staying on as the Kiwis assistant coach.

The Panthers coach assisted Stephen Kearney during last year's Rugby League World Cup, but Kearney told Radio Sport yesterday that Cleary can't continue because of his NRL commitments.

"From our point of view we want to make sure we get the right person for the right role, and that's what we're working through at the moment.

"We're pretty close so we should have something for you over the next week or so,'' Kearney said.

The NZRL will be appointing two assistants.