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Stephen Kearney

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Stephen Kearney
ONZM
Personal information
Full nameStephen Peter Kearney
Born (1972-06-11) 11 June 1972 (age 52)
Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1991 Randwick Kingfishers
1992–94 Western Suburbs 46 6 0 0 24
1995–98 Auckland Warriors 79 11 0 0 44
1999–04 Melbourne Storm 139 20 0 0 80
2005 Hull F.C. 24 5 0 0 20
Total 288 42 0 0 168
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1991 Wellington 7 0 0 0 0
1993–04 New Zealand 45 9 0 0 36
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2011–12 Parramatta Eels 42 10 1 31 24
2017–20 New Zealand Warriors 79 32 1 46 41
Total 121 42 2 77 35
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2008–16 New Zealand 42 23 1 18 55
Source: [1][2]
As of 21 September 2019

Stephen Peter Kearney ONZM (born 11 June 1972) is a New Zealand professional rugby league football coach who until 2020 was the head coach of the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and a former player.

A New Zealand national captain and second-row forward, Kearney's club football career, which spanned from the early 1990s to the mid-2000s, was played for the Randwick Kingfishers, Western Suburbs Magpies, Auckland Warriors, Melbourne Storm (with whom he won the 1999 NRL Premiership), and Hull F.C. (with whom he won the 2005 Challenge Cup).

Kearney was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2011 Four Nations tournaments. He also previously coached the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League.

Background

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Kearney was born in Paraparaumu, New Zealand.

Playing career

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A Kapiti Bears junior, Kearney played for the Junior Kiwis between 1989 and 1991, becoming the side's captain for the 1991 series against Great Britain. He made his senior début in 1991 for the Randwick Kingfishers and also played for Wellington that year. Randwick lost the Wellington Rugby League Grand Final 6–14 to the Wainuiomata Lions.[3]

Turning professional he moved to Australia to play for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1992 in what is now the NSWRL Premiership. In 1993 he became the New Zealand national rugby league team' youngest test captain, aged 21.[4] He left the Magpies at the end of 1994, returning home to play for the Auckland Warriors in their inaugural season. At the end of that season he travelled to England to represent New Zealand in the 1995 World Cup. He missed the first test match against a re-unified Australian team in 1998 due to suspension.[5] Kearney remained a Warrior until 1998, when he moved to Australia to join the Melbourne Storm. In the Melbourne club's second ever season Kearney played at second-row forward in their victory in the 1999 NRL Grand Final.[6] Kearney was selected for the New Zealand team to compete in the end of season 1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he played at second-row forward in the Kiwis' 22–20 loss.

Having won the 1999 Premiership, the Melbourne Storm travelled to England to contest the 2000 World Club Challenge against Super League Champions St Helens R.F.C., with Kearney playing at second-row forward in the victory. In 2002 Kearney missed the series-deciding match against Great Britain as he had to rush back home to Melbourne to be with his sick five-year-old daughter, who needed emergency surgery.[7] While captaining the Storm in 2004, Kearney became the first New Zealand footballer to play 250 Australian first-grade matches.[8] He also played his last test match for the Kiwis in 2004, in a game that marked the début of Sonny Bill Williams.[9] Kearney finished his playing career with English club Hull F.C. in the Super League competition, playing in their 2005 Challenge Cup-winning side.[3]

Coaching career

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In 2006 Kearney retired from playing and returned to Australia to take up a role as assistant coach at his old club, the Melbourne Storm, under Craig Bellamy. In 2008 Kearney was appointed as the New Zealand national rugby league team head coach on a two-year contract.[10]

Kearney (with assistant Wayne Bennett) coached the Kiwis to their first World Cup win. On 22 November 2008, they defeated Australia 34–20 in the final, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[11] Following this achievement, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league, in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.[12][13]

Kearney in 2008

For the 2010 Anzac Test, Kearney coached New Zealand in their loss against Australia. In the 2010 post-season Kearney was announced as Daniel Anderson's replacement as head coach of the Parramatta Eels for three years beginning in 2011. Shortly after that, he took the Kiwis to victory in the 2010 Four Nations Final against Australia.

In 2011 he failed to coach the Parramatta NRL team to any success, with the Eels achieving just 6 wins and 1 draw in 24 matches, and only just missing out on the wooden spoon when they beat the Gold Coast Titans in the last game of the regular season.

Things didn't get any better for Kearney in the 2012 NRL season. With the Eels struggling in last place on the NRL ladder after 16 rounds, Melbourne Storm's inaugural coach, and two time premiership winning coach Chris Anderson was appointed as a mentor to Stephen Kearney to help him turn the club's fortunes around.[14] However this did not eventuate and Kearney was forced to resign only three rounds later on 20 July, after achieving only 3 wins from 19 matches in the season.[15] He left the Eels with just 10 wins from 42 matches, a very poor winning percentage of 24 percent.

In October 2012 Kearney signed a two-year contract as Brisbane Broncos assistant coach from 2013.[16]

Kearney coached the holders, New Zealand in the 2013 World Cup where they were beaten in the final by Australia.[17]

In November 2014, Kearney guided New Zealand to their second Four Nations championship, defeating Australia 22–18 in the final.

In March 2015, Kearney signed a new deal to remain as coach of the Kiwis until the conclusion of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[18]

At the end of 2015, his 23 test wins as coach and five wins over Australia is the most out of any that has coached New Zealand in the past,[19] in stark contrast to his record as an NRL head coach.

On 12 September 2016, Kearney stepped down from his role as coach of New Zealand after accepting a return to head coaching in the NRL as coach of the New Zealand Warriors on a three-year deal.[20][21] He replaced Andrew McFadden who remained at the Warriors as his assistant.[22]

In his first season coaching the Warriors, 2017, the team finished 13th on the table, after managing only 7 wins from their 24 games, a win percentage of 29%.

In 2018, however, Kearney's season started brightly, with the club winning their first 5 matches of the season, for the first time in the club's history.[23] Slipping slowly down the ladder through the season, from starting right at the top, they finally secured eighth spot, with 15 wins out of 24, a 62% win percentage. They then crashed out of their first finals match since 2011 with a 27–12 loss to the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.[24]

At the halfway point of the 2019 season, Kearney's Warriors had 4 wins from 12 starts, a 33% win percentage.

Kearney signed a contract to extend his time as head coach of the Warriors until 2022 at the end of February 2019.[25]

On 20 June 2020, Kearney was sacked by the New Zealand Warriors, due to poor results, and was replaced by his assistant coach Todd Payten.

Kearney returned to the Melbourne Storm for the 2021 NRL season, signing a one-year deal as an assistant coach.[26]

In September 2021 his contract was extended for a further two years. [27]

Kiwis coaching record

[edit]
Opponent Played Won Drew Lost Win Ratio (%)
 Australia 20 5 1 14 25.00
 England 10 6 0 4 60.00
 Papua New Guinea 3 3 0 0 100
 Tonga 2 2 0 0 100
 France 2 2 0 0 100
 Samoa 3 3 0 0 100
 Wales 1 1 0 0 100
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 100
TOTAL 42 23 1 18 54.76
World Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
Australia 2008 Champions 1/10 5 4 1 0
England/Wales 2013 Second place 2/14 6 5 1 0
Total 1 Title 1/2 11 9 2 0
Four Nations record
Year Round Position GP W L D
England/France 2009 Third place 3/4 3 1 1 1
Australia/New Zealand 2010 Champions 1/4 4 3 1 0
England/Wales 2011 Third place 3/4 3 1 2 0
Australia/New Zealand 2014 Champions 1/4 4 4 0 0
Total 2 Titles 2/4 14 9 4 1
Anzac Test
Year Round Position GP W L D
2008 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2009 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2010 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2011 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2012 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2013 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2014 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2015 Anzac Test Won 1/2 1 1 0 0
2016 Anzac Test Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
Total 1 Title 1/9 9 1 8 0
Baskerville Shield record
Year Round Position GP W L D
2015 Lost 1/2 3 1 2 0
Total - 0/1 3 1 2 0
Other Test matches
Year Round Position GP W L D
2008 Won 1/2 1 1 0 0
2009 Won 1/2 1 1 0 0
2010 Won 1/2 1 1 0 0
2011 Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2012 Lost 2/2 1 0 1 0
2013 Won 1/2 1 1 0 0
Total 4 Wins 4/6 6 4 2 0

Legacy

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In 2007 Kearney was named in the Melbourne Storm team of the decade.[28]

In 2012 Kearney was named as one of the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League.[29] Born in Wellington, he was also named[when?] in the Wellington Rugby League's Team of the Century.[citation needed]

As part of their 20-year celebrations in 2018, Melbourne Storm named Kearney part of their team of the Melbourne Storm Team for the first 20 years.[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ RLP playing
  2. ^ RLP coaching
  3. ^ a b Team of Century Week 8 Wellington Rugby League
  4. ^ Hadfield, Dave (3 November 1993). "Rugby League: Kiwis drop Freeman". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ Sterling, Peter (23 April 1998). "Out of this world". Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  6. ^ Cockerill, Ian (3 October 1999). "Eye of the Storm". The Sunday Age. p. 4. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  7. ^ "Sympathy from Brits" 22 November 2002 New Zealand City
  8. ^ "Rugby League: Test veteran first New Zealander to 250-match mark". The New Zealand Herald. 29 May 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  9. ^ SBW named to start for Kiwis, ONE Sport, dated 26 October 2013.
  10. ^ "New Zealand put faith in Kearney". BBC Sport. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  11. ^ "New Zealand humble Kangaroos in World Cup final in Brisbane". Fox Sports News (Australia). 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  12. ^ "Leading sports stars lauded". The New Zealand Herald. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Chris Anderson to help Stephen Kearney at Parramatta Eels". The Australian. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  15. ^ "My best not good enough: Stephen Kearney". The Daily Telegraph. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Kearney handed Brisbane role". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  17. ^ Hamilton, Chris (29 November 2013). "Rugby League: Now a dream can come true for New Zealand's Stephen Kearney". Daily Express. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  18. ^ "New contract for Kiwis coach Kearney". nz.sports.yahoo.com. 27 March 2015.
  19. ^ "League: King Kearney looks to build lasting Kiwis empire". nzherald.co.nz. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Kearney new Vodafone Warriors head coach". warriors.kiwi. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  21. ^ "Stephen Kearney backs David Kidwell to take over Kiwis coaching duties". tvnz. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. ^ "Stephen Kearney handed Warriors job, to stand down as New Zealand coach". The Guardian. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Warriors create history with miracle comeback". stuff.co.nz. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  24. ^ "NRL 2018 finals: Panthers power on as Warriors bow out". Foxsports. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Kearney signs on with Warriors for three more years". RNZ. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  26. ^ Walsh, Dan (25 September 2020). "Kearney returns to Storm as Bellamy's assistant". NRL. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  27. ^ Chapman, Grant (13 September 2021). "NRL 2021: Former NZ Warriors, NZ Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney locked in as Melbourne Storm assistant for two more years". NRL. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Melbourne Storm Team of the Decade". Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  29. ^ Kiwis Coach One of Three New Legends of League Named nzrl.co.nz, 30 October 2012. Archived 2013-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "Storm announce 20 Year Team". nrl.com.au. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Melbourne Storm names greatest ever team for 20th anniversary". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Kearney.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach

New Zealand Warriors
2017-2020 		Succeeded by
Todd Payten (caretaker)
2020
Preceded by Coach

Parramatta Eels
2011-2012 		Succeeded by
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