NZRL Names Tony Iro As PIRTEK KIWIS' Assistant Coach

[Skinner]

Not sure about this one, but I didn't see it coming.....

Good luck to Tones anyway...he's a top bloke.

From : http://www.warriors.co.nz/

Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Tony Iro was today confirmed as the Pirtek Kiwis’ new assistant coach after Stephen Kearney’s World Cup coaching partner Wayne Bennett announced his unavailability.

Former Australian coach Bennett (59) worked alongside Kearney as a coaching and management adviser throughout 2008, culminating in New Zealand beating the Kangaroos to win the World Cup for the first time in its 54-year history.

Bennett has told the NZRL he won’t be able to continue in the role this year as he concentrates on his new job as St George Illawarra’s NRL coach after ending his 21-year association with Brisbane.

For Iro (41), a 25-test Kiwi from 1988-98, it’s a case of back to the future.

Now counting down to his second season as the Vodafone Warriors’ NYC (National Youth Competition) coach, he had the assistant’s role with the Kiwis in 2006-07 and was also the New Zealand A coach in 2005-06.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Ray Haffenden said Bennett’s decision was totally understandable, adding the board was delighted Iro could take up the job.

“Wayne said one of his objectives was to assist us in winning the World Cup,” he said.

“He has achieved that and he said he was very grateful he had the opportunity to be involved. His focus now is on coaching the Dragons and that will take up all his time.

“We’re forever grateful for the fantastic contribution Wayne made to the team and to the game as a whole while working with Stephen last year. We’ll mark that appropriately at a later date.

“At the same time, we’re thrilled to have someone of Tony’s calibre coming on board and we’re especially thankful to the Warriors for their support in making this possible.”

Kearney echoed Haffenden’s comments about Bennett’s contribution.
“I don’t think you can really say enough about Wayne’s gesture in making himself available to work with us last year,” he said.

“He was a tremendous help to me personally and to everyone else in our squad. I know he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we all felt the same way about having him involved with us.

“I fully understand Wayne’s reasons but it’s also exciting to have Tony coming into the group.

“We have strong links from when we played test football together in the 1990s and I’ve also watched with great interest since he moved into coaching.

“He did a brilliant job with the Warriors’ NYC side last year and he’ll bring a lot of benefits to the side.”

Iro, who has been associated with the Warriors in a coaching capacity since 2004, said he was honoured to rejoin the Pirtek Kiwis.

“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the New Zealand team after what happened last year,” he said.

“Stephen has shown what a great coach he is already but, like him, I want to see New Zealand perform consistently well against Australia.

“I also appreciate the Vodafone Warriors giving me the chance to further myself as a coach by having this role.”

Iro’s first assignment will be this year’s Anzac Test against the Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane – the scene of the Kiwis’ World Cup triumph – on May 8.

That will be followed by the Four Nations tournament in England and France in October-November.

TONY IRO – ASSISTANT COACH, PIRTEK KIWIS
Date of Birth: May 30, 1967

Previous Appointments: Warriors NYC coach 2008-

Auckland Lions NSW Premier League assistant coach 2007

Warriors development coach 2006-07

Kiwi assistant coach 2006-07

New Zealand A coach 2005-06

Warriors IT and video analyst 2005

Playing Record (Tests):
Kiwi Number: 606
25 Tests for NZ (1988-98)
16 points (4 tries)

Playing Record (Club):
NRL: 70 first grade games for Manly (1990-93), 60 for Sydney Roosters (1994-96), 14 for Hunter Mariners (1997), 20 for Adelaide (1998), 20 for South Sydney (1999).
England: 50 games for Wigan (1988-89), 11 for Leigh (1990-91)

 

[playdaball]

2 coaches with no 1st grade experience? Good luck to Tony.

 

[Micistm]

Gutted Bennett won't be there (But we probably couldn't pay him anyway!), but Iro I reckon will do a good job there. Good luck to the two of them.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Good Luck to Iro

So when did our countries name get changed to Pirtek ? Fair enough they get some exposure for their $$$ though I suppose, but we are the New Zealand Kiwis

 

[MKEB...]

who makes the Kiwis Jerseys?

 

[AliN]

Good call I reckon.
Iro suprised me last year with our young boys in the Toyota Cup and seeing him at Hamilton the other night, the respect is there.

Good luck to both him and Kearney.

 

[ozbash]

who makes the Kiwis Jerseys?

a lady with a sewing machine.

bluey had no first grade experience either and he did ok.

I was sort of hoping Cleary might have got the nod as Kearneys assistant but Iro certainly impressed last season..

 

[Iafeta]

Good luck to Tony. I used to love watching the Iro boys play.

I thought he did a tremendous job last year with the U20s. From that squad he had a few first grade debutants in Packer, Matulino, Fai, and already he's got others right on the fringes of it with O'Regan, Ah Mau and Poching all there and knocking. Had a fantastic squad, and did a great job with them, and if not for five minutes of bad luck and dropped intensity in the semis he may well have won the inaugural comp.

 

[Micistm]

Yes indeed, certainly did us proud last year...and Iro gained some fans down here in Chch with a low key visit last year (The day Manu saw snow for the first time!), said all the right things and was pretty impressive. And the Iros are legends of the game in recent times, which is always good to inspire the young guys.