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.

4 of a kind is the worst hand of all!

If anyone can commiserate with the St. Helens Rugby League Club, it would have the be the NFL's Buffalo Bills. This might, on the face of it, be an unrealistic comparison, but I remember clearly the painful years from 1991-1994 when the Bills won 4 consecutive AFC Championships only to be beaten each time in the Superbowl by NFC opponents. It is a harsh and grating record, especially to the Bills fine quarterback and 2002 Hall of Fame selectee, Jim Kelly.

Like the Bills, St Helens' (above in blue) suffered their fourth straight grand final defeat after losing 22-10 to the Wigan Warriors yesterday; and three previous deciders on the trot to Leeds. It was a sad way for Super League great Keiron Cunningham to exit the game after 496 matches, and 18 seasons, for the Saints. The defeat was also a dispiriting end to Mick Potter's two-year reign at the club. He leaves for Bradford as the only St Helen's coach not to have lifted a trophy in the Super League era.

It is clearly debatable whether the bitter taste of four straight defeats in a championship could possibly be sweetened by the fact that a team deserved to be in the contest. Probably not. The Buffalo Bills have never won another championship and probably haven't even come close. It remains to be seen whether the Saints will follow suit. Hopefully both teams can engineer a comeback or two over the next few seasons.

Redemption Rules

Sydney Roosters five-eight Todd Carney must be looking into heaven right now and thanking his lucky stars, or maybe trying to locate his personal guardian angel. For a player who was booted out of the Australian National Rugby League in 2008 to stand at the pinnacle of his prowess as a player by winning the Dally M Medal is nothing short of a miracle.

The Dally M Medal is the major individual award in the NRL, and given to the player voted the best and fairest in the competition for any given year. It is awarded to those that have performed at the top of their game and have limited their suspensions during the year. The award caps off a stunning return to the NRL for Carney, who spent the 2009 season rebuilding his life and his career playing district football in the North Queensland town of Atherton after several off the field indiscretions that cost him his place.

The resurrection of Todd Carney has paralleled the rise of the Roosters who have burst into contention for a grand final spot with some stunning play in the latter half of the season. It seems that Carney and the Roosters are a match made in heaven if their combination this year is anything to go by. It just goes to show that anyone, who does everything to put their past behind them, can succeed in their chosen arena. Thank goodness for opportunities that come along that allow us to change our spots. Apparently normal leopards suck.