Brian McClennan
Encyclopedia
Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors
of the National Rugby League
(NRL). He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team
(with whom he won the 2005 Tri-nations) and then England's Leeds Rhinos
club (with whom he won the 2008 and 2009 Super League
championships). McClennan also coached the Exiles team in the inaugural International Origin match in 2011.
Brian McClennan is the son of former St Helens
coach Mike McClennan
.
under the guidance of his dad, Mike
. He played at Stand Off and also kicked goals. When his dad moved to Northcote
in 1989, Brian also moved and was a part of the team which won the Auckland Rugby League
grand final that year.
McClennan also represented Auckland
and in what was to be his final representative game he captained the province to a win over the touring Great Britain side
. However he played for Auckland again, including in the Rugby League Cup
challenge against Canterbury in 1994.
In 1994 while player-coach at the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
he played several games for the North Harbour Sea Eagles
.
, and led them to repeated Auckland Rugby League
successes until they were invited to be part of the national Bartercard Cup
.
He coached the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
and Mt Albert Lions
to championships in the Bartercard Cup
, and was then assistant coach for the Kiwis under Daniel Anderson
.
Despite this, his appointment in June 2005 as national coach of New Zealand was controversial, mainly because he had no top-level experience in Australia
or Great Britain
. However, he led New Zealand to an upset triumph in the 2005 Tri-Nations
series. New Zealand won the series final against Australia 24-0 at Elland Road
, England. It was Australia's first defeat in a series or tournament since 1978.
In 2006 he coached the Auckland Lions
to the minor premiership in the Bartercard Cup. However the Kiwis lost both mid-season tests to the Kangaroos
and Lions
. In 2007 he served as Director of Football to help the Auckland Lions prepare for their entrance into the NSWRL Premier League
before leaving to concentrate on the Kiwis for the rest of the season. In mid 2007 reports emerged that he was looking for a job in the National Rugby League
.
announced that New Zealand national coach Brian McClennan would be joining the club as Head Coach on a two year contract from 1 December 2007. McClennan subsequently resigned as national coach, his position taken up by Gary Kemble
in August 2007. In his first season as coach, the Rhino's won the 2008 World Club Challenge
, beating Melbourne Storm
11-4 at Elland Road
.
He coached Leeds to the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St Helens.
The following year he achieved the same feat beating St. Helens 18-10 in the 2009 Super League Grand Final
.
McClennan resigned after the 2010 Super League season, returning to New Zealand and working for the Auckland Rugby League
as their development and coaching manager.
In 2011, McClennan was announced as the first coach of the Exiles, a team made up of Australian and New Zealand players contracted to Super League
clubs. The Exiles defeated England
in June in the first International Origin Match, a fixture intended to become an annual contest.
's replacement as head coach of the New Zealand Warriors
for the 2012 and 2013 NRL seasons after Cleary had signed to coach the Penrith Panthers
after the 2011 season.
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL). He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
(with whom he won the 2005 Tri-nations) and then England's Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
club (with whom he won the 2008 and 2009 Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
championships). McClennan also coached the Exiles team in the inaugural International Origin match in 2011.
Brian McClennan is the son of former St Helens
St Helens RFC
St Helens Rugby League Football Club are a professional rugby league club from St Helens, Merseyside, North West England who play in the Super League. Nicknamed Saints, they were a founder member of the Northern Rugby Football Union. They have been league champions on 12 occasions and runners up...
coach Mike McClennan
Mike McClennan
Michael James "Mike" McClennan is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach who represented his country. He is the father of Brian McClennan.-Playing career:...
.
Playing career
McClennan started his playing career at Mt AlbertMt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
under the guidance of his dad, Mike
Mike McClennan
Michael James "Mike" McClennan is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach who represented his country. He is the father of Brian McClennan.-Playing career:...
. He played at Stand Off and also kicked goals. When his dad moved to Northcote
Northcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
in 1989, Brian also moved and was a part of the team which won the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
grand final that year.
McClennan also represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
and in what was to be his final representative game he captained the province to a win over the touring Great Britain side
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
. However he played for Auckland again, including in the Rugby League Cup
Rugby League Cup
The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is currently contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy was originally known as the Northern Union Cup...
challenge against Canterbury in 1994.
In 1994 while player-coach at the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
Hibiscus Coast Raiders
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition.-History:...
he played several games for the North Harbour Sea Eagles
North Harbour Sea Eagles
The North Harbour Sea Eagles were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented North Harbour in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. For the first two seasons they were coached by Graeme Norton....
.
New Zealand
Appointed the North Harbour rugby league development officer in 1994, McClennan assisted U16 Coach John Ackland at the Auckland Warriors in 1995. He then took over as coach of third division Auckland side, the Hibiscus Coast RaidersHibiscus Coast Raiders
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition.-History:...
, and led them to repeated Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
successes until they were invited to be part of the national Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
.
He coached the Hibiscus Coast Raiders
Hibiscus Coast Raiders
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition.-History:...
and Mt Albert Lions
Mt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
to championships in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
, and was then assistant coach for the Kiwis under Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson (rugby league)
Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...
.
Despite this, his appointment in June 2005 as national coach of New Zealand was controversial, mainly because he had no top-level experience in Australia
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
or Great Britain
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. However, he led New Zealand to an upset triumph in the 2005 Tri-Nations
2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
New Zealand 38 defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 (B. Tate 2, M.Gasnier 2, M. King, A. Johns...
series. New Zealand won the series final against Australia 24-0 at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, England. It was Australia's first defeat in a series or tournament since 1978.
In 2006 he coached the Auckland Lions
Auckland Lions
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly based around the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club...
to the minor premiership in the Bartercard Cup. However the Kiwis lost both mid-season tests to the Kangaroos
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
and Lions
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
. In 2007 he served as Director of Football to help the Auckland Lions prepare for their entrance into the NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
before leaving to concentrate on the Kiwis for the rest of the season. In mid 2007 reports emerged that he was looking for a job in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
Super League
In July 2007 Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
announced that New Zealand national coach Brian McClennan would be joining the club as Head Coach on a two year contract from 1 December 2007. McClennan subsequently resigned as national coach, his position taken up by Gary Kemble
Gary Kemble
Gary Edward Kemble is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player. He has both played and coached the New Zealand Kiwis. He is the current head coach of the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League.-Playing career:...
in August 2007. In his first season as coach, the Rhino's won the 2008 World Club Challenge
2008 World Club Challenge
The 2008 Carnegie World Club Challenge was contested between Super League XII champions, the Leeds Rhinos and National Rugby League season 2007 premiers, the Melbourne Storm. For the fifth consecutive year the English home team defeated their Australian counterparts.-Leeds Rhinos:Leeds Rhinos...
, beating Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
11-4 at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
.
He coached Leeds to the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St Helens.
The following year he achieved the same feat beating St. Helens 18-10 in the 2009 Super League Grand Final
2009 Super League Grand Final
The 2009 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 10 October 2009, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was contested by defending champions and 2009 League Leaders Leeds Rhinos, and the team they had faced in the grand final for the past two years, St Helens.The 2009 decider, contested...
.
McClennan resigned after the 2010 Super League season, returning to New Zealand and working for the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
as their development and coaching manager.
In 2011, McClennan was announced as the first coach of the Exiles, a team made up of Australian and New Zealand players contracted to Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
clubs. The Exiles defeated England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
in June in the first International Origin Match, a fixture intended to become an annual contest.
NRL
On 1 August 2011 he was appointed Ivan ClearyIvan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
's replacement as head coach of the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
for the 2012 and 2013 NRL seasons after Cleary had signed to coach the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
after the 2011 season.