From being nominated to leave the competition at various times since 1995, Stephen Kearney now seems to have the Auckland-based Warriors on the road to bigger and brighter things.
It’s no secret the front office of the Warriors has been a rabble over the club’s 24-year history, with former senior management figures who perhaps were not contributing to the greater good of the club.
The bigger picture for the club required key personnel both on and off the field to drive the club forward. The NRL is tough enough without implosions and bad decisions from upper management.
Since taking the head coaching role at the beginning of the 2017 season Kearney has enjoyed stability with skilled people coming to the Warriors to assist in key roles for the club.
An unsung hero who has purposely tried to stay out of all media attention is Brian Smith.
Smith coached a remarkable 675 first-grade games in both Australia and England. Although not winning a grand final still irks the 64-year-old, his winning percentage of 52 per cent is respectable for a coaching career that spanned 30 years.
There is no doubt his relationship with the thoughtful Kearney is a good one and just the presence any head coach would love to have as a sounding board. While Smith has a big hand in the recruitment side of things, he is also in full swing to try and further develop younger New Zealand players who could be suited to professional rugby league.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Kearney famously stated his five-year plan at Parramatta in 2011 when taking over the Eels head coaching role. He lasted only 42 games (with ten wins) before both he and the board decided enough was enough.
This time Kearney hasn’t needed to make such bold public business plans or statements; he is quietly going about his business rebuilding the club and has only ever asked for patience.
The experience gathered both at the international level and in subsequent assistant roles has Kearney in a great place to oversee the Warriors surge up the NRL ladder as the club as a whole gets stronger in all departments.
Remarkably the Wellington-born back rower is yet to reach 100 games as a head coach – his 42 test matches is the same amount of exposure as he’s had to his head coaching role at the Eels.
What the former Kiwis playing great and World Cup-winning coach has been able to achieve in such a short time with the Warriors only points to an upward trajectory.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been an inspired signing, and then his re-signing was an even bigger coup.
Tuivasa-Sheck fended off huge offers from two codes in Australia, England, France and Japan to commit to the Warriors long term, and he did so with the belief they would win a premiership during Kearney’s tenure.
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
Kearney hasn’t finished building the squad yet. The addition of experienced front rower Leeson Ah Mau next season adds depth, and no doubt the off-season will see other players potentially offered opportunities at the improving Auckland club.
Kearney has steadily been improving the club, and as disappointing as it would be for the Warriors not to go deep into the finals this season, they look very well placed for a real tilt within the next two seasons.
Optimism has always been strong for the Warriors at the beginning of each season, but Kearney and co have now established solid foundations on which they can build a real chance for this season.
They will have to do it tough and will face numerous do-or-die matches, but the resilience raised from Kearney’s previous experiences should hold the Warriors in good stead, even if the chance to compete for the premiership has come a little sooner than Kearney probably would have realistically expected. But that’s the beauty of rugby league and in particular the NRL – anything can happen once you make the top eight.
While the future looks bright, don’t write off the Warriors just yet for season 2018 as they look to make their third-ever grand final appearance and claim the club’s first title.
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