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6 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
The New Zealand Warriors have become involved in a transtasman wrangle over their elite juniors only two days out from their opening game in this year's National Rugby League finals series.
Manly on Thursday night announced it had appointed Auckland-based coach Mark Gardiner to its coaching and development program in New Zealand.
Gardiner was recommended to the club by former Sea Eagles coach Graham Lowe, who is heading up the scheme which Manly hopes will provide elite New Zealand juniors with an alternative to the Warriors.
That prompted Warriors chief executive Mick Watson tonight to describe the scheme as a insult to Manly juniors.
"I have no problem with it, it makes me laugh," Watson told League Correspondent.
"There's no big secret over here.
"If I was a club I would be focusing on my own juniors. That's a slap in the face for their juniors."
Manly has had strong links with New Zealand in the past, with the likes of Kevin and Tony Iro, Matthew Ridge, Craig Innes and Darrell Williams playing for the club.
Chief executive Ian Thomson stressed the Sea Eagles weren't setting up in opposition to the Warriors.
"We admire what they have and are achieving but we are coming in through the front door simply to provide an alternative for the host of young talent being produced in New Zealand," Thomson said.
"They all can't play for one club and we are simply saying we are here with an opportunity to play in one of the great clubs of the rugby league world."
Under the scheme, elite Kiwi juniors would take part in training programs with a view to joining the Sea Eagles down the track.