KEY POINTS:
The NZRL is facing allegations an old boys' network was a principal reason that forced Brian McClennan out of his job - and into the arms of Leeds.
News that Malcolm Boyle, a close friend of NZRL director of football Graham Lowe, will be appointed All Golds manager
will do nothing to silence the talk.
But Lowe strongly denied it was a case of jobs for the boys.
"Malcolm is going to be All Golds manager, just for that game, which is a decision of the appointments committee," Lowe said. "We looked at a number of people. The job required a lot of PR work so Malcolm [who runs a PR firm] was the obvious person. He also did a lot of work to get the Auckland Lions off the ground.
"If people read any more into it than that, I don't give a damn. Jobs for the boys is crap. We're about results so you don't give jobs for the boys."
Part of the criticism being levelled is that NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers has surrounded himself with supporters to maintain his control.
Convenor of selectors Howie Tamati was a staunch backer when Chalmers was in the running for the chairmanship and Lowe has made no secret of the fact he's a Chalmers man.
Even the supposed frontrunner for the coach's job, Paul Bergman, is said to be close to Chalmers and NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz.
Boyle said: "I don't need another job. I currently chair the Auckland Lions, write for the National Super League magazine and put together a package for Wayne Bennett and Darren Lockyer to join the All Golds tour.
"I have never charged anyone in rugby league a cent for the work I have done for league. That includes Bluey McClennan, whom I consider a mate and whom I have helped since the 2005 Tri Nations."
Chalmers denied the "jobs for the boys" claims, which have surfaced widely in league circles.
"I have heard thousands of theories but we can't be any more transparent than what we are doing now," Chalmers said. "We now have an appointments committee made up of three ex-Kiwi coaches, three very credible and respected coaches.
"What we have done with this committee is de-politicise the situation, where in the past the chairman would simply come into the room and say, 'I think we should have this person'. Now the board only endorses the recommendations of the appointments committee."
Lowe heads this committee, which includes Tamati and Frank Endacott.
Alongside the raft of changes to the structure of rugby league, there have been myriad appointments and personnel changes since Chalmers assumed the chairmanship in the wake of the Nathan Fien Grannygate.
These have included Lowe as director of football, Kemp as director of coaching and a national selector and Tamati as convenor of selectors.
It was these three appointments in particular that McClennan felt undermined his position as Kiwis coach.
McClennan's contract stated that he would be co-ordinator of selectors and that only exceptional circumstances would prompt the appointment of a convenor of selectors. Grannygate was that exceptional circumstance.
Under the terms of his contract drawn up by former chairman Selwyn Pearson, McClennan was to be consulted over who this should be and he agreed under the proviso it would be former Kiwis captain and NZRL board member and selector Ken Stirling. One source said Chalmers even offered Stirling the job but a panel headed by Kemp, and including Ron Scott and Ken Laban, appointed Tamati instead.
The landscape changed again in May. McClennan met with Chalmers and Lowe at an Albany cafe on May 28, when he was told of Lowe's appointment. It was announced publicly later that day.
McClennan objected, especially to the proviso he liaise with Lowe about all matters to do with the Kiwis. "Too many cooks in the kitchen," he said.
While all of this was going on, McClennan was in talks with Leeds. When he was first approached, on May 7, McClennan is said to have sought assurances from Chalmers that he could do both jobs.
McClennan contends that Chalmers agreed to lend his support and that the residency clause could be changed to allow him to take the Kiwis through to the end of next year's World Cup. It's understood Chalmers had even indicated to McClennan last year the NZRL were prepared to drop the residency clause. Chalmers denies that.
It is this stipulation, introduced in 2003 to effectively prevent Gary Freeman re-applying for the Kiwis job, that forced McClennan to decide between the two jobs.
The NZRL believe coaching the Kiwis is a fulltime job and that it's crucial the coach oversees player and coach development, even though McClennan had not done any of that since being appointed in 2005.
When Lowe informed McClennan on June 8 that Kemp had been added to the selection panel, McClennan said this was another breach of his contract and formally entered into a dispute with the national body. He was challenging Chalmers' right to delegate.
By the end of the month, when no progress had been made, McClennan insisted the matter firstly go to mediation and then arbitration. This hung over proceedings, even after McClennan was formally offered the Leeds job on July 1.
Although the NZRL offered last Tuesday to virtually double McClennan's salary, it was done on the basis that two significant changes were made to his contract. McClennan felt his hand had been forced and accepted the Leeds post.
Rugby league didn't need any more bad blood, because the game is still recovering from the wounds inflicted by Grannygate.
Chalmers has clearly sought to improve rugby league's structures, evidenced by the adopting of a new constitution, but his methods have often been controversial.
"Sometimes you have to make tough decisions," Chalmers said. "But there is no decision I have made from November 3 that I regret. We did everything we could to keep Brian but he's chosen to take up a very lucrative offer. Why would we offer to double his salary if we didn't want him?"
Lowe is clearly passionate about rugby league but he's also a strong personality with strong ideas about how things should be done. It's obvious McClennan felt his position had been undermined by Lowe's appointment, even though Lowe says he's an ardent supporter of McClennan.
"I don't know why I am being painted as the boogie-monster," Lowe said. "I don't know why Brian is saying he can't work with me. When would I be standing over his shoulder? I don't understand. I would have done anything for Brian, anything at all."
McClennan felt he could do both jobs, in the same way Frank Endacott and Daniel Anderson did before him, as well as Ricky Stuart, Wayne Bennett and Brian Noble. In truth, however, few enjoyed widespread success when charged with two jobs.
Had he been allowed to, McClennan would have stepped down as Kiwis coach after the World Cup.
Of course, we will never know if McClennan could have been successful at both and the search is now on for his successor.
Bergman, who was Junior Kiwis coach in 2006 and also heads up the Wellington academy, has been painted as the favourite to take over.
Other prospects include Phil Prescott, Tony Iro, Graeme Norton, Duane Mann, James Leuluai, Gary Kemble, David Lomax and even Kemp and the returning Dean Bell.
Whoever it is, he will have a tough job to fill the boots of the hugely popular and respected McClennan.
