Kiwis fight Leeds McClennan interest

The New Zealand Rugby League today offered national coach Brian McClennan a substantial wage increase in an effort to head off a bid for his services from Leeds Rhinos.

McClennan has apparently been offered the chance to succeed Tony Smith at Headingley when he steps up full-time to the Great Britain coaching position at the end of the Super League season in October.

The NZRL reiterated their preference to McClennan that he remains Kiwi coach, based in New Zealand, and have given him until July 31 to make up his mind, saying in a statement: "Both parties have specific contractual obligations to each other."

McClennan is due to go head to head with Smith when the Kiwis visit Britain for a three-match Test Series in October and November but, if he accepts the Leeds offer, will almost certainly be asked to step down from the national post.

New Zealand, desperate to keep "Bluey" after he guided the Kiwis to the Tri-Nations Series final for each of the last two years, came up with a new offer at a meeting on Tuesday morning between NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers, director of football Graham Lowe and McClennan.

The statement continued: "The NZRL reiterated its position that to remain as Kiwi coach, McClennan must be resident in New Zealand to enable him to be part of its high-performance and coaching and development pathways. This is specified in his existing contract.

"Both parties agreed it is in everyone's interest that McClennan decides as soon as possible whether to accept his offer from Leeds. McClennan said he will consider his position after consulting his family and advisers."

Leeds have made no official comment but it is thought they expect to have McClennan in post for the start of pre-season training in November.

The move would reunite McClennan with Kiwi Test stars Brent Webb, Clinton Toopi and Ali Lauitiiti, who were all in the New Zealand team which shocked Australia 24-0 in the 2005 Tri-Nations Series final at Elland Road.