Stephen Kearney

For the United States Army officer, see Stephen W. Kearny.

Stephen Kearney

Kearney in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Stephen Peter Kearney
Born	11 June 1972 (1972-06-11) Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
Position	Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
	Randwick
1992–1994	Western Suburbs	46	6	0	0	24
1995–1998	Auckland Warriors	79	11	0	0	44
1999–2004	Melbourne Storm	139	20	0	0	80
2005	Hull	24	5	0	0	20
	Total	288	42	0	0	168
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1991–1992	Wellington
1993–2004	New Zealand	47	9	0	0	36
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2011–	Parramatta Eels	25	6	1	18	24
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2008–	New Zealand	8	4	1	3	50
Source: RLP

Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM (born 11 June 1972 in Paraparaumu, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team. As a player he spent most of his career, which spanned from the early 90s to the mid 2000s and included an NRL premiership and a Challenge Cup win as well as time spent as the captain of the New Zealand team, in the second row position. He is currently the youngest head coach in the NRL.

Playing career

Kearney started his career with the Kapiti Bears. Turning professional he moved to Australia to play for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1992 in what is now the National Rugby League competition. In 1993 he became the New Zealand national team's youngest test captain at 21. 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 traveled 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.

Kearney remained a Warrior until 1998, when he moved to Melbourne to join the Melbourne Storm, helping them to their first Grand Final victory in 1999.

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.

While captaining the Storm in 2004, Kearney became the first New Zealand footballer to play 250 Australian first-grade matches.

Kearney finished his playing career with English club Hull in Europe's Super League competition, playing in their 2005 Challenge Cup-winning side.

Coaching career

In 2006 Kearney retired 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 Kiwis' head coach on a two-year contract.

Kearney (with assistant Wayne Bennett) coached the Kiwis to their first Rugby League World Cup win on 22 November 2008, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, defeating Australia 34–20. As a result he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

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.

External links

• Kiwi Player Profiles: Stephen Kearney
• Stephen Kearney Player Profile at Hull
• Article on Kapiti Bears website: Stephen Kearney - a role model for young Rugby League players.

Preceded by Gary Kemble	Coach New Zealand Kiwis 2008-present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Daniel Anderson	Coach Parramatta Eels 2011-present	Succeeded by Incumbent