The New Zealand national team came very close to playing in their fifth Rugby League World Cup Final.

Unfortunately for the Kiwis they were defeated by eventual tournament winners Australia 16-14 in a close contest that many believe New Zealand were the better side in and unlucky to lose.

While their faithful are certainly disappointed that the Kiwis did not make it as far in the World Cup as expected there has not been a large amount of criticism directed at the squad.

However, in an article for Stuff NZ senior sports writer David Long has taken aim at coach Michael Maguire and believes Stacey Jones should replace him.

“Michael Maguire should be thanked for all the great work he’s done with the Kiwis team over the last five years, but it’s time for New Zealand Rugby League to move on and give the head coach’s job to Stacey Jones,” said Long.

“With the dust settled on the Rugby League World Cup, plans need to be put in place quicker than normal as there are only three years before the next tournament begins in France.”

New Zealand may have come up short in the World Cup but the notion that a new head coach is needed is ludacris.

Unless Maguire feels the need to move on than bringing in his replacement should not even be a thought.

OPINION: Michael Maguire did a wonderful job rebuilding the Kiwis and led them to a respectable World Cup finish, but the Little General's time has come. https://t.co/qxSJmJpwM6

— Stuff Sport (@NZStuffSport) November 26, 2022

As previously stated New Zealand came very close to beating Australia in the semi-final of the World Cup and if they had done so Maguire would be celebrated.

Even if the Kiwis did need to move on from the former premiership-winning coach, bringing in Stacey Jones would not be the answer.

With due respect to the Warriors and Kiwis legend, Jones’ tenure as a head coach has not been successful.

On the seventh of June, the Warriors confirmed that they had parted ways with head coach Nathan Brown and that Jones would replace him until the end of 2022.

He would be at the helm of the first-grade squad for 11 games where he led the Warriors to just two wins and failed to secure the head coach role full-time with Andrew Webster taking over next season.

Coaching at the international level is quite different to coaching in the NRL but nevertheless, Jones has done nothing to prove that he must become the New Zealand national team coach at this time.