NRL: McClennan tipped to head coaching trio

Brian McClennan. Photo / Getty Images

Expect Brian McClennan to become the Warriors coach but within a structure that could incorporate fellow contenders Tony Iro and John Ackland.

While most pundits and analyses have centred on a choice between either Iro or McClennan, a picture is beginning to form of the trio working together - and McClennan may be the man to take the club to a new level. Iro is still a strong contender but some feel he may still be a bit raw as a head NRL coach.

Instead, some of the clever money is shifting to a McClennan-Iro-Ackland axis. Both Iro and Ackland get on well with McClennan.

The McClennan and Ackland families are friendly, sometimes spending time together over Christmas, while McClennan rated Iro enough to bring him into the Kiwis management structure in 2006 and 2007.

Ackland is likely to stay focused on the club's juniors but his recognised knowledge, talent identification and canniness could be the seal on a coaching deal that would give the Warriors continuity - as well as plugging in McClennan's renowned ability to lift a side, as he did with the Kiwis and Leeds in back-to-back Super League titles in 2008 and 2009.

The one negative perceived from various rugby league sources is over McClennan's ability to sustain the week-in, week-out, high pressure slog that is an NRL coaching position.

Some see him as a coach most adept at a specific project - like the World Cup or the Tri Nations with the Kiwis - where his clever blend of emotionalism and patriotism can work wonders.

Some see that as a weakness and say an NRL coach has to have more in the tricks bag than emotional appeal. That is a reason why Iro's hopes of the top job are not dead - but probably an even stronger pointer to them working together.

Presuming Iro wants the job - he is yet to go on the record saying so - his strength is that he could continue in a similar vein to Cleary if the Warriors believe they are on the cusp of reaping the benefits of a development policy which delivered the Toyota Cup last year (helped by Ackland's scouting skills and his installation of discipline in younger players since returning to coach at age group level).

Iro has the respect of the Warriors players, management and fans, as well as taking the under-20s to the finals in his two years in charge at Toyota Cup level.

Warriors management will also need to be mindful of their public image if McClennan is not selected; he is a figure who inspires public following; one source even went as far as to suggest there would be protest marches around Mt Smart Stadium if he is rejected. Many sources suggested McClennan's ability to fire up fans could be just what the club thinks it needs to get more public backing.

IT SEEMS likely the Warriors will not rush the new appointment. There have been reports Cleary is likely to leave the club in the next few weeks - but the Herald on Sunday understands that scenario is highly unlikely.

Part of the reason is that it is emerging Cleary may not have actively desired to go to Penrith - and he has the energetic support of the Warriors players. But when the club failed to table a counter-offer after Penrith and Phil Gould came calling, Cleary may have felt there was only one direction he could go.

Quite why the highest levels of the club felt a counter-offer was not required is not known. There have been persistent rumours some in the club moved against Cleary last season and, although that move was forestalled, he was under more pressure earlier this year.

That means that some of the ringing endorsements made of Cleary (when Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah announced his departure at a press conference this week) may ring a little less credibly - although it is not known what part in all this was played by owner Eric Watson.

It appears three playoffs in five years - while the best consistent coaching record the club has had - may not have been enough for some in the hierarchy who want the cigar instead of the "close, but no ...".

What is clear is that the players have a high regard for the outgoing coach; few see a problem in Cleary remaining and the players continuing a professional assault on the NRL top eight.

Both have points to prove - Cleary to his new club and the players to whoever takes over; Iro or McClennan or both. Also, the Warriors feel they are in a good position as regards the playing roster, coaches, the developmental and overall culture of the club and financially - and there is no headlong rush to reinvent the wheel.

Keen league observers will have noted the change in performance after that shock comeback loss to the Tigers on June 12. Before they leaked 18 points in 20 minutes to lose, the Warriors had appeared, in that game, to be on the verge of something rather good.

That loss bit deep. It was compounded by another heavy-leakage defeat to the Cowboys before last week's error-sparked loss to a conservative, percentage-playing Storm outfit. The Warriors camp seem genuinely convinced they are close to getting it right - and see the bye and the opponents they then face as an ideal platform for their push into the playoffs, where they have been in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Cleary seems likely to coach until the end of the season, unless the not-reinvented wheel comes off and the team suffers too many losses.

"Outsiders" like former coach Daniel Anderson are unlikely to get a look in. Anderson, who had the Warriors from 2001-04, took the club to two playoffs and their only grand final but has since been regarded as failing with the Eels - now coached by the Kiwis' Stephen Kearney.