Kiwis role keeps Prescott in league | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Phil Prescott might have been lost to rugby league coaching if he hadn't been appointed the new Kiwis assistant coach.

The successful Canterbury Bulls coach was named in the new national coaching team last week after taking a break from the sport this year.

And he says he was very fortunate the unexpected opportunity came when it did through Brian McClennan leaving.

"If I'd not coached next year, that would probably have been the end of it," he said. "You can't be out for too long and expect to walk back into it."

The 50-year will assist Gary Kemble along with James Leuluai, and they're straight into it with a test against Australia in Wellington on October 14, then three tests in England and one in France.

Kemble told his coaching partners he wants them to be involved in every area. "Gary said he wants us to become a team of our own, and we have input into all aspects," said Prescott.

Prescott became one of the most respected figures in New Zealand league for his achievements with the Bulls, but said he "fell into coaching" rather than planning it.

In a playing career with Halswell and a season each at Marist and Addington, he was "just a good club footballer."

He won the 1985 grand final with Halswell but never wore the Canterbury jersey.

While playing he helped out at Halswell by coaching a junior team, which consecutively won the 14, 15, and 16 years finals, and he was made premier coach.

"We won two grand finals in a row in 87 and 88, my first two seasons," he said.

"Winning gives you enthusiasm to carry on.

"I was probably fortunate I started coaching when rugby league was on a real high in the late 80s, early 90s. League was certainly on a roll, and you were coaching in an environment everybody wanted to be part of."

Prescott is not giving up the day job as a slaughterman on the mutton chain at CMP Rakaia to move to an office tower in Auckland.

The NZRL appointment is part-time, and he was fortunate his boss was good about giving him time for it, he said.