NRL heavy-hitters drop in for NZ Kiwis coach interviews
The Kiwis rugby league team are one step closer to a new coach, after a whirlwind round of job interviews in Auckland over the past couple of days.
Newshub can reveal at least three prominent Sydney coaches - former Manly teammates Geoff Toovey and Des Hasler, and NSW State of Origin mentor Laurie Daley - were in town on Tuesday to push their cases for selection, with another also understood to be in consideration.
Of the four, Hasler has the best credentials, guiding Manly to two NRL premierships and another Grand Final appearance, and Canterbury Bulldogs to two finals.
Toovey succeeded him at the Sea Eagles and led them to the 2013 Grand Final.
Daley has never coached in the NRL, but has prepared the Blues since 2013, winning one Origina series.
The national team is scrambling to regroup, after a disastrous 2017 World Cup campaign that saw them beaten by Tonga and eliminated by Fiji in the quarter-finals. Incumbent coach David Kidwell chose not to reapply for his job.
NZ Rugby League has appointed a high-powered independent panel, including Kiwis legend Dean Bell, former Warriors captain Monty Betham, former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, and former Silver Ferns netball captain and coach Waimarama Taumaunu, to oversee the coaching appointment.