Wayne Bennett has been overlooked for the vacant New Zealand job, with Stacey Jones named as the new Kiwis mentor on a three-year deal.
Jones replaces Michael Maguire, who was forced to give up the role when he was named NSW State of Origin coach late last year.
Bennett was considered a strong chance to secure the gig after throwing his hat in the ring for the vacancy.
The Dolphins coach was an assistant in the Kiwis set-up which won the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
But he was pipped to the post by 47-year-old Jones, who has signed a deal which runs until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
Stacey Jones is a Kiwi rugby league legend. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Jones, who captained the Kiwis during his 47-Test career and had worked alongside Maguire since 2018, will remain as an assistant coach with the Warriors.
“It was a special privilege to play for my country and to now have the chance to coach the Kiwis is both exciting and humbling,” Jones said.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the Kiwis over the last few years and seeing the team develop under Madge (Maguire).
“I’ve learnt so much being involved with such a special group of players.
“I’m hugely grateful to the Warriors for the coaching opportunities they’ve given me to put me in this position, and for the way they supported me in my bid for this role with the Kiwis while continuing to work at the club.”
V’landys could quit early
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has been re-elected for a new three-year term but he has indicated he may not go the distance as he eyes off a successor.
The Racing NSW CEO will be rubber-stamped for a further term on the board at Wednesday’s annual general meeting but he told NewsCorp that he was no guarantee to last until 2027 in the role.
“It’s hard,” V’landys said. “It’s a pressure role, there’s no doubt. There are days where I’ve wanted to chuck it all in.
“I’m only human. Some days I think to myself, why the hell am I doing this? Why am I putting my family through this? But other days when you see the positive results, you are glad you are doing it. I love helping and representing the fans.
“This job is the greatest rollercoaster ride you can ever be on. One day you are on top of the world and looking at the game and thinking how good is this? And then the next day something bad happens and you are in the basement thinking how do we get ourselves out of this?
“It’s great to be appointed for another term but there’s no guarantees I do the whole term.”
Megan Davis and Kate Jones will also be reappointed for three more years as the NRL looks to venture into uncharted waters with the Las Vegas double-header experiment creating history to open this year’s season next week.
Jones is viewed as a potential successor to V’landys with the former Queensland politician making an impact in his first term on the Commission.
The next broadcast rights deal and expansion will be major decisions in the next few years with doubts growing over preferred candidate Papua New Guinea’s capability of hosting an NRL franchise despite financial backing from the Australian government.
Luai out of WCC final as Cleary eyes off trophy
Penrith head coach Ivan Cleary is eager to see his all-conquering NRL powerhouse belatedly join the roll call of world club champions with victory over Wigan at the DW Stadium.
The Panthers fell short against Wigan and Bradford in 1991 and 2004 respectively before suffering an agonising 13-12 golden-point defeat to St Helens at BlueBet Stadium in February last year.
Despite winning three successive NRL premierships, Cleary knows an asterisk will remain beside his side’s achievements until they have ascended to the global crown.
“It’s the one thing we haven’t been able to do – only 12 teams have managed to win this thing and we’ve had three goes and missed out on it,” Cleary said on Tuesday.
“You look through the list of winners and only the big clubs have done it, so for us to be on that list would be big.
“I’ve watched these games for many years from growing up as a kid, and it’s a big game – you don’t play for a world championship every day.
“Both teams will show what it means on the night.”
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Penrith and Wigan have each been hit by injury setbacks ahead of the fixture, with Cleary confirming the Panthers will hand 20-year-old Jack Cole only his second senior start at five-eighth in place of absent star Jarome Luai.
Wigan will draft youngster Harvie Hill into their front row after losing new signing Luke Thompson, formerly with Canterbury, to concussion in Saturday’s Super League season-opener at Castleford.
Another new arrival, prop Sam Walters, was already sidelined.
Wigan head coach Matt Peet said he breathed a huge sigh of relief when halfback Harry Smith escaped a ban following a yellow card for a tip tackle against Castleford, meaning he can line up at the sold-out DW Stadium on Saturday (7am Sunday AEDT).
“Both teams want to come up against the best of one another,” Peet said.
“We want to see Harry on that stage, particularly because of the journey he’s been on, coming through (Wigan’s development) pathway.
“Harvie is another home-grown lad which is brilliant and it is an exciting opportunity for him.”
with AAP
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I like the Vlandys and Abdo combo. Probably our best since Arko and Quayle. Seem to have 2 very different personalities that combine well such that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I'd like to see them stay for another 5 years - but no more...stagnation, corruption, staleness etc will set in if you stay too long. Of course there are exceptions - Uncle Nick.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Hardly surprising the Kiwis took Jones over Bennett. If Maguire wasn't going have the time to head up the Kiwis program because of Origin, Bennett with an NRL job wasn't going to have the time either.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
If I was going to be critical of his performance it would be: * Too much interference in the rules of the game that isn't his role * Listens to loud mouth radio heads as gospel * Not held Abdo accountable for the continuing under performance of Annesley and the Ops team * Seems to have done noting to address the declining numbers in grass roots - which given the additional revenue they have generated, should have been happening by now.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
"his first term" ? Three options: - Kate is a man transitioning to a woman and the author used the politically incorrect, but genetically accurate, pronoun. - Kate is a man transitioning to a woman and the author used the politically correct, but genetically inaccurate, pronoun. - Author had his/her/its mind on something else, and typed the wrong pronoun. Life is hard, these days.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Abdo might have his eyes on the Woolworths job now ? :silly:
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
PVL is a one off. Extremely capable man, as well as having a good lip. Abdo has been promoted beyond his ability. The culture within his realm is toxic and dysfunctional from what little birdies tell me. Plus he is terrified of talent apparently. Usual story for blokes who spend 99% of their time protecting their job.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
"the RLPA don’t like him." Other than a too late, WAP response to the Volkman issue, and nothing done to stop it happening again ,what has Newton done this year? Bet he is on the gravy train to LV, but I wonder who is paying for his freeloading trip? The Players ? or the NRL ?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
"Queensland politician making an impact in his first term on the Commission" Kate Jones is female ? And from the same Qld labor faction as Beatie, stacking the board ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
I find it hard to be too critical of V'landys. I think he has done a pretty good job with the NRL during some difficult times (Covid). We generally got our full seasons of footy in, we expanded the women's game, and if you can believe the recently announced "set of numbers" for 2023, the NRL is flying financially and in terms of viewership. With an operating surplus of $58.2 million for 2023, and with assets now totalling $260 million, and a 33% increase in funding to the Clubs, and more media viewers (93 million) than the AFL ($91 million) for the 2023, it is had to be too critical of his performance. Particularly when he also has NSW Racing flying as well. Sure, gambling has had plenty to do with it, but it may as well be NRL benefitting from it than some other range of sporting bodies.
Nat
Roar Guru
Beattie shouldn’t be held as the example. He sent a mineral-based golden river state broke and done the same with the NRL and a failed Comm Games on the GC. Fact is high ranking Poli’s are well connected in high places across a range of industries (hence Beattie keeps getting rolls). V’landys has been a bit of an anomaly insofar as being as visible as he has been. Most Chairs work in the background.
Nat
Roar Guru
It’ll be a tough transition out of relying on gambling. Even though the majority of the money comes from broadcast money, their revenue comes from gambling ads. It’s very dangerous to have so many eggs in one basket so the NRL should be looking at alternative revenue sources while they don’t have to right now. It could all change with the flick of a politician pen.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
V'Landys was, IMO (though I'm not a fan) the right person for the time. He's not now and can go in peace, I welcome his departure, the game can grow without gambling $$
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Worst thing they could do would be appoint another ex politician. Did we learn nothing from Beattie?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
That's a very fair comment. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on Abdo, but it seems to me he's a bit of a puppet in his current role, with V'landys pulling the strings. I just don't get the impression he handles the tough stuff that well. Whether that's because V'landys steps in and takes over or because Abdo simply isn't up to it is something only time will decide
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Andrew Abdo has had to work in the shadow of the unpredictable V'landys, who seems to want to combine Chairman of the Board and CEO - just making decisions then telling Abdo to make it happen. If/when PVL goes, AA may be able to actually do the job he is supposed to be doing. It will depend on how the new Chair behaves, and that - I believe - will determine whether he sees out his contract or leaves early.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Exactly right. Abdo must also be hoping the game's in really good shape when V'andy's pulls the pin. If it is, it gives those you mentioned less ammunition to throw at Abdo, which gives Abdo more time after Vlandy's moves on, to make his own exit.
Don
Roar Rookie
I also wonder how long Abdo will stay once V’landy’s gives it away? Not long. The clubs will attack him and without V'landys he'll get diced, and the RLPA don't like him.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
V'landys will be a tough act to follow. I also wonder how long Abdo will stay once V'landy's gives it away?