Rewarded for hard work, just like it should be!

Stephen Kearney, the Kiwi Rugby League coach who engineered the imposing but unexpected (to the Australian public) triumph over the Kangaroos in the 2008 World Cup has been rewarded for his efforts and innovation, by being selected as the Parramatta Eels new head coach in the NRL. An imposing player and character Kearney has been the assistant coach at the Melbourne Storm for the last five years.

Kearney is such a respected individual in league circles I am sure he will make an immediate impact on a club that surprisingly struggled under the leadership of Daniel Anderson. He was an inspirational and talismanic captain, who always led from the front. I know the Eels players will respect that and that he will stamp his authority and structure on the club, which they sorely need. It is almost enough to make a longtime Canberra supporter switch allegiances, as times definitely change, but unfortunately, Parramatta was always the league team I could not stand. So we shall see. Whatever the outcome, I wish big Steve all the best in his new role.

Kearney played 264 first grade games in Australia over 13 seasons from 1992-2004 for Wests Tigers, Auckland Warriors and Melbourne Storm, before concluding his career at Hull in the English Super League. He is still New Zealand’s youngest ever captain at 21 and has played 44 Tests for the Kiwis, placing him fourth in the Kiwis appearance list behind Ruben Wiki’s 55. Stephen has also been awarded New Zealand’s Order of Merit Medal.