Warriors sidestep Broncos
speculation

New Zealand Warriors rugby league club co-owner Mark Hotchin says he and fellow owner Eric Watson are a long way from buying English Super League club the London Broncos.

Hotchin today confirmed Cullen Sports Ltd, which owns the Warriors, is interested in the London venture but he emphasised the Auckland-based National Rugby League (NRL) club remains the company's priority interest.

"Nothing will change that. The Warriors are our No 1 property," he said in a statement.

A newspaper report has said that Cullen Sports was in line to buy the Broncos.

The same story speculated recently-signed Warriors assistant coach Ivan Cleary and defence co-ordinator Kevin Campion had been "earmarked to coach" the London Broncos.

Warriors chief executive Mick Watson today moved to quell that speculation.

"Ivan and Kevin have been signed by the Warriors for a specific purpose," he said.

"They are both integral components in our plan to return the Warriors to where we believe the club should be in 2005 ? and that's as force in the NRL.

"Ivan and Kevin are part of a carefully designed coaching structure we have worked to put together after our disappointing year in 2004.

"I can assure our supporters we have no intention of altering our mindset in terms of the personnel we need on our coaching staff.

"Ivan and Kevin are with us all the way on this one."