Cheers to the coach

While all eyes would have been on Steve Hansen’s ABs against Italy this morning — and how they bounced back after losing to Ireland — Stephen Kearney is enjoying a much smoother ride.

You couldn’t have blamed longsuffering Kiwi league fans for expecting little success from a Kearney-coached Warriors team when he took up the post in 2017.

For a start, the Parramatta NRL side Kearney coached had an unflattering record of 10 wins, one draw and 31 losses during his tenure.

And despite New Zealand proving a breeding ground of top talent, the Warriors have too often been the underachievers in the NRL.

They’d been notorious for blowing matches they should have won, continually testing fans to stick to the former catch-cry “Matter of Faith”.

And off the field, things have been a shambles; including regular coaching changes (including three coaches in three years), issues with the salary cap and very public and messy fall-outs between previous owners.

But Kearney — returning to the club he proudly played for between 1995-98 — has proven to be a master-stroke.

The Herald on Sunday today reveals his success at the club — including getting the Warriors into the play-offs after a seven-year absence — is set to be rewarded with a three-year deal.

Kearney has won back fan support (evidenced by sell-out crowds at Mt Smart) and isn’t afraid to make tough calls when it comes to the future of high-profile and well-paid players.

As Kearney’s short-term future appears locked-up, the future of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is uncertain.

Hansen is on contract with New Zealand Rugby until the end of next year’s Rugby World Cup campaign.

Last weekend’s loss to Ireland saw some fans and columnists call for time to be blown on his coaching tenure.

But let’s not forget this is a man who has won a World Cup as a head coach, and earlier an assistant coach.

Hansen says he will decide whether to stand down at the end of next year.

Considering what he has given to New Zealand rugby, he should be given the right to make that call in his own time.

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