Former Wigan winger Tony Iro has taken up a role coaching the New Zealand national side.
Ex- Warrior replacing Bennett for New Zealand
Former Wigan winger Tony Iro has taken up a role coaching the New Zealand national side.
Former Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett stepped down from the assistant coaching role after helping guide the Kiwis to World Cup glory last year.
He has now taken over at St George Illawarra and Iro, 41, who made 50 appearances for Wigan, has returned to the post he occupied in 2006-07.
"Wayne said one of his objectives was to assist us in winning the World Cup," said NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden.
"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 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."
Iro's first assignment will be a return to the scene of the Kiwis' World Cup victory on May 8 when the Kiwis take on the Kangaroos in Brisbane.
That will be followed by the Four Nations tournament in England and France in the autumn and Iro, who has been associated with New Zealand Warriors in a coaching capacity since 2004, is elated.
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the New Zealand team after what happened last year," Iro said.
"Stephen Kearney has shown what a great coach he is already but, like him, I want to see New Zealand perform consistently well against Australia."
