BREAKING: Stephen Kearney sacked from Parramatta
Roar Guru 
Stephen Kearney is one of the NRL's under pressure coaches (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
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Breaking News: NRL coach Stephen Kearney has been sacked from the Parramatta Eels club. The struggling club has recorded just three wins in the 2012 NRL season and look set for the wooden spoon.
Kearney has spent two season in charge with dismal results. Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo told Kearney of the decision today, with the club set to hold a press conference tomorrow.
It is unclear if the line from the club will be that Kearney has resigned or if he has been sacked.
The Roar understands that Kearney won’t be coaching beyond the game against the Melbourne Storm this weekend, and may not see out the game at all.
Kearney signed a three year deal in 2011, but won’t be given the chance to see out his contract, nor the rest of the 2012 season.
Ricky Stuart has been rumoured to be a replacement for Kearney, but no indications have been given by the Eels as to who will replace Kearney in the short or long-term.
However, recently appointed assistant coaches Chris Anderson and Brad Arthur are likely to take charge of the team in the short term.
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- NRL, Parramatta Eels, Rugby League
July 19th 2012 @ 6:08pm
Ryan O'Connell said | July 19th 2012 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
“The Roar understands that Kearney won’t be coaching beyond the game against the Melbourne Storm this weekend. . .”
That’s awesome. Give him one more game against the best team in the competition!
July 19th 2012 @ 6:19pm
AWCMONREF said | July 19th 2012 @ 6:19pm | Report comment
Totally agree with Ryan O’Connell, thats probably why Parramattas where they are………
July 19th 2012 @ 6:29pm
Jay said | July 19th 2012 @ 6:29pm | Report comment
Danger game for the storm.. I think they’d need the win more than Parra
July 20th 2012 @ 3:46am
StormGal said | July 20th 2012 @ 3:46am | Report comment
I’m really worried about this game. We all know what happens when a coach is sacked. That team usually wins!
July 19th 2012 @ 7:50pm
Damn Straight said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:50pm | Report comment
Another example of the “good judgement” displayed by that dunce Spagnolo and his boardroom brigade of dim witted dumb f*cks. I can see Denis Fitzgerald grinning smugly right now. That guy had a titanic ego and a pompous persona, but at least the club had a winning culture under his tenure.
July 19th 2012 @ 8:07pm
Matt_S said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Are you ray hadley by chance?
July 19th 2012 @ 8:54pm
Damn Straight said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Hehe, nope i’m the ghost of Stan Zemanak.
July 19th 2012 @ 9:57pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 19th 2012 @ 9:57pm | Report comment
Parramatta were at their best when Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal was their recruitment officer. The club started to go downwards when he went over to Manly, which is the same time that the Sea Eagles started to become a powerhouse. Cleal wanted to stay at the Eels.
July 19th 2012 @ 10:22pm
Shark67 said | July 19th 2012 @ 10:22pm | Report comment
No to be picky but Parramatta were at their best in the 1980′s. You could pretty much count on one hand how many good seasons they have had since that great period in the 80′s.
It is a shame to see Kearney go, as a coach can only do so much. Their roster doesn’t have too many top class players but a few over rated ones, maybe the Eels should sack a few of them too. Surely in a district that boast one of the biggest junior catchments could find at least 10 good juniors to develop a year.
July 19th 2012 @ 10:27pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 19th 2012 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
Well yeah they were at their best in the 80s, but the game was very different back then. The last time they were a legitimate premiership threat, year after year, was when Cleal was scouting juniors from the Parramatta district and bringing them to the club. They did make the finals a few times in the years afterwards, but they were always a hit and miss team. When Cleal was there they were more consistent and didn’t have to look at buying players as much.
July 20th 2012 @ 2:20am
81paling said | July 20th 2012 @ 2:20am | Report comment
Cleal was and is a fantastic unsung hero of Parra and now Manly, he has a talent of not only providing the best players to a club but the players that any competent coach can use, mould and work with in order to create a team that can play off each other talents. That was clear in 2008 when Parra were so good on their wings with Growthe, Burt, Inu (and even C Keating always on the move) who dominated the sidelines in that loss to Melbourne.
Getting Noel Cleal back would not solve the clubs issue’s but, working out why he left and sorting that out would go along way to solving the clubs issue’s.
July 19th 2012 @ 6:37pm
Gleeso said | July 19th 2012 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Good luck to Steve.Things have not worked out for him at this great club. The board could not have supported him any more than they have done.
July 19th 2012 @ 7:19pm
p.Tah said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
They had to, they appointed him. It’s a reflection on them too.
July 19th 2012 @ 7:31pm
Johnno said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
Nathan Brown, Brian Smith, Royce Simmons, Steve Folkes, Dave Furner, Daniel Anderson, Jason Taylor, Cliff Lyons,.
July 19th 2012 @ 9:09pm
Morotti said | July 19th 2012 @ 9:09pm | Report comment
Daniel Anderson was sacked by this board.
Nathan Brown has a job next year coaching in the Super League. He got stood down by Huddersfield but he was moving at the end of the year anyway.
Royce Simmons just got sacked so he is available.
Brian Smith has been there already and was moved on.
Jason Taylor might be in with a shot but we all know how well that worked out at the Rabbits. I think he is coaching 20′s at the Roosters.
Cliff Lyons? I know he is NSW Cup coach but other than that didn’t realise he would be in the running.
Steve Folkes is assistant at the Dragons but maybe.
Dave Furner? Really? After years of under achieving at Canberra he is still there at present. If he got sacked no one would touch him.
July 19th 2012 @ 9:19pm
p.Tah said | July 19th 2012 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
I wouldnt be surprised if they recruited Cliffy to play!
July 19th 2012 @ 7:33pm
yewonk said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:33pm | Report comment
it might not seem like it now but this is good for kearney. to quote Rupert Murdoch talking about the eels. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.
July 19th 2012 @ 7:40pm
von Neumann said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Sometimes its too hard to dig yourself out of a situation.
You need to be thrown out.
Given a different set of circumstances would he have done better?
The cosmic circle turns yet again and the wheel of time spins. But i think Kearney will be sighing a relief. The team was clearly going no where. But Kearney is. Some where else.
Good luck to him. The players need to aim up now.
Wonder who let who down.doesn’t matter now
July 19th 2012 @ 7:41pm
Damn Straight said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:41pm | Report comment
Tell me this…what board at any club in the world would have him? The guy is now unemployable as a first grade coach. Maybe he could start coaching the under 12′s in some obscure country town that no one has heard of. His remuneration would be paid in overcooked pies, warm beers and the congratulations of some moronic bogans in the rare event that he wins a game.
Adios Steve. As a first grade coach, you make a great assistant. Any assistant coach would look good under Craig Bellamy. Daniel Anderson would be laughing that hard right now, that he might just poo his pants.
Parramatta are in some serious poop here. That board and that ridiculous excuse for a CEO, wouldn’t have a shred of good judgement between them. The club is submerged in a bucket of loser sauce to the point where recruitment is a massive problem now. I mean seriously, if you want to stall your career, go to Parra.
So which retarded ass clown are they going to put in there as coach now? Give Paul Langmack a call, i hear he’s pretty good. :p
July 19th 2012 @ 7:47pm
Brett McKay said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
I understand the motives, but why now, with a bit over a month left in their season?
July 19th 2012 @ 8:08pm
Lost Earthling said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:08pm | Report comment
But, he had the backing of the board…
July 19th 2012 @ 8:35pm
von Neumann said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
I know hey! And they always do! Well until they are sacked. Someone has been telling Steven porkies.
won’t when he had the backing? When they were winning? (that time. Lol)
July 19th 2012 @ 8:15pm
von Neumann said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:15pm | Report comment
Kearney is done effectively
sack him so you can see what the assistant is like.
What a funny club. wish they would get it right. Hindy is embarrassed surely
July 19th 2012 @ 8:19pm
von Neumann said | July 19th 2012 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
Oops, maybe not done. Remember Ricky stewart…
Ha