Garry Fissenden had been on the NZRL board for eight years.

Garry Fissenden has quit as New Zealand Rugby League chairman after three years in the role.

Fissenden announced his resignation at a board meeting on Wednesday and will be replaced by Reon Edwards as NZRL interim chairman.

He had been on the board for eight years and his departure comes just a few months before New Zealand co-hosts the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

In a press release from the NZRL, Edwards acknowledged Fissenden saying: "Garry has put a huge amount of time and energy into the game, especially around the development of a strong international calendar. We greatly appreciate his contribution."

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Edwards has served on both the Canterbury Rugby League and Southern Zone boards.

He will remain in the role until the first meeting following the AGM at which time the board will elect a new Chair.

Also leaving as a board member is Tim Gibson, who has also resigned after three years of service.

The NZRL recently announced that it will report a surplus of $643,000 at its AGM next Monday.

This will give it reserves of $1million, however all of this money will disappear over the next financial year as it doesn't receive any income from the World Cup, and because of the tournament the Kiwis aren't able to tour to bring in revenue.

The NZRL has come in for some stinging criticism recently over its handling of the fallout from the night Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor reportedly took cocaine after the Kiwis were thrashed in Canberra in the Anzac Test.

Earlier this week assistant coach Steve McNamara announced he would be quitting the Kiwis to focus on his new job as head coach of Catalans.

It leaves the Kiwis with a brand new captain in Adam Blair and no assistant coaches.