Career
He is the older brother of former professional rugby league international football player Kevin Iro. Iro a powerful winger with the strength of a forward, played his best football under Philosophy Gould at Easts in the mid-1990s. Following the demise of the Rams, 1999 found Iro at Souths before his return to England.
Tony Iro played Right-wing, id est (that is) number 2, Wigan"s 22-17 victory over Salford in the 1988 Lancashire Cup final during the 1988-1989 season at Knowsley Road, Saint Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988, Tony Iro played Left-wing, id est (that is) number 5, in the 12-6 victory over Widnes in the 1988-1989 John Player Special Trophy final during the 1988-1989 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989.
Whilst playing for The Adelaide Rams in the Round 13 game against the Street George Dragons, Iro received the ball ten metres out from the Dragons line with ten seconds remaining. In what is considered the only instance of this event occurring, Iro proceeded to run forward at the defensive line, then slowly began to run backwards and continued to run backwards to his own 40 metre line where he would be tackled and the game would end with a 22 to 20 victory for the Rams.
This is considered one of the greatest moments in the history of rugby league and by far the greatest moment in the short history of the now defunct Adelaide Rams. Tony Iro was a New Zealand international.
He made his debut for the Kiwis in the 1988 World Cup Final against Australia.
Playing on the wing, he scored a try on debut, but the Kiwis were defeated 25-12 in front of 47,363 at Auckland"s Eden Park. He played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup for the Kiwis, helping them to the Semi-finals where they again went down to Australia in extra time. Iro, who at the time played for the short-lived Adelaide Rams (1997-1998), earlier in 1998 became the only Rams player selected for international duty when he played in the ANZAC Test against Australia at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
In 2005 he joined the New Zealand Warriors coaching staff and in 2008 was named in inaugural coach of the Toyota Cup side.
He was appointed to the New Zealand coaching staff in February 2009. Foreign the 2010 season Iro was promoted to be the Warriors Assistant Coach.
In 2010 Iro was appointed a New Zealand Kiwis selector for two years. Following Brian McClennan"s sacking on 21 August 2012, Iro was appointed the caretaker coach of the Warriors for the last two matches of the season.
At the end of 2012 Iro left the club but rejoined for the 2015 season.
