$2m payout for axed NRL coach

Wellington: The Warriors’ shock axing of coach Stephen Kearney will come at a massive financial cost.

The Daily Telegraph in Sydney has reported the Auckland-based NRL club might have to fork out $2 million to pay-out Kearney, who had more than two years remaining on his contract, though Stuff understands the figure could be closer to $1.6 million.

Kearney, who took over from Andrew McFadden in 2017, inked a contract extension till the end of 2022 in February 2019. CEO Cameron George said at the time of the extension: “It’s vital to have the right people in the right roles and in Stephen we have someone who absolutely fits what we need.”

The Daily Telegraph also reported that the Warriors players did a haka for Kearney as the coach himself informed the team on Saturday afternoon.

George on Saturday revealed that Kearney “took it on the chin, but was certainly shattered about it”. Warriors management decided to dump Kearney in the wake of the 40-12 loss to the Rabbitohs, which saw the Warriors move to a 2-win, 4-loss record this season, and George conceded “there’s never a right time” to cut a coach.

“We’ve got to look after the club’s best interests, moving forward and it’s not ideal timing, absolutely not, because of the situation we’re currently in,” George said. “But that doesn’t negate us and my core principles around decision making at the club which is: club’s interests first and the future of the club.