Richie Barnett: Iro has what it takes to lift Warriors to next level

Tony Iro. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Tony Iro should be the next Warriors coach. As the assistant to Ivan Cleary, Iro knows the club inside and out.

Having played and coached in the NRL, he knows what the competition is all about.

Iro knows the challenges a head coach will face, he's got a great understanding of the game and he also has an established relationship with the players.

Many of the young stars emerging into first grade now played for Tony when he was U20s coach. In terms of a natural progression, he is the right man for the job.

I liken the situation to my last few years at the Roosters. Under Phil Gould - funnily enough, given recent events - we were a good side. We went close for a couple of seasons but it never felt like we were going to win the comp.

Then the season I left Ricky Stuart came in and the team went to a new level, winning the title in 2002 and making the grand final the next two years.

Ricky might well have been the difference. As a coach he has the ability to lift a team. But to me the foundations for success had already been laid.

The team had a core of veterans like Freddy Fittler and Craig Fitzgibbon who were close to their peak and young stars like Anthony Minichiello coming through. The current Warriors fitness trainer Craig Walker had also just come in.

The next season the team was incredibly fast and fit. The club also added a couple of key pieces, the most important being English prop Adrian Morley, who gave the team a hard-nosed element.

Sometimes the addition of that one crucial player is what pushes a team over the edge.

To me, the Warriors are in a similar position right now. With players like Kevin Locke, Glen Fisiiahi and Shaun Johnson coming through, the club has great young talent emerging in key positions.

It feels like success could be right around the corner and I think Iro is the coach who could take the team to the next level.

You have to wonder whether Ivan would be leaving if the Warriors were still pushing for the top four.

I honestly think Ivan has been pretty unlucky at the Warriors. He's constantly battled injuries in key positions. He's had to shuffle his halves and mix and match to cover gaps.

Tiny fractions can determine success and failure in the NRL and those things can have a huge effect.

I don't agree that Ivan should have been released immediately. He's the ultimate professional. He won't drop his guard over the remainder of the season. In fact, he will be supremely motivated to do well.

To bring someone else in at this stage of the season would be insane.

As for next season, Cleary has established a strong, disciplined culture which gives the club an extremely strong foundation.

Tony Iro taking over would ensure the culture remains and, with the talent now coming through, success could be just around the corner.