The Warriors have confirmed the widely expected appointment of Brian McClennan as coach for the next two years.
The former Kiwis coach and Leeds Rhinos coach says his ambition was always to coach in the National Rugby League.
McClennan, who's 49, says being able to do it with the Warriors in his home town couldn't be better.
He says he'll step back now as it's important that the outgoing coach Ivan Cleary and his team get all the support they can for the rest of this season.
Chief executive Wayne Scurrah says it'll be up to McClennan to decide on his assistants.
However Scurrah says two of the unsuccessful applicants, the coach of the successful Junior Warriors John Ackland and Cleary's assistant Tony Iro, are highly regarded.
He says there was interest from overseas coaches, including some in the United Kingdom, but McClennan's outstanding results with every team he has been involved with club teams in Auckland to the Kiwis made him the most suitable candidate.
McClennan's been working as the Auckland Rugby League's football development manager since returning from Leeds when he guided the Rhinos to back-to-back Super League titles and a World Club Championship crown.
