Kearney signs on for more

Warriors chief executive Cameron George says it was vital to get Stephen Kearney’s new contract sorted before the new season begins.

The NRL club confirmed yesterday that Kearney had agreed a three-year extension to his current deal, which still had a year left to run.

All things going well, it will keep Kearney at the club until the end of the 2022 season and the announcement stops the prospect of him being linked to jobs at any other NRL club.

If Kearney had gone into the new season with his future still up in the air, he would have been linked to any club that started the season badly, which could have been disruptive for the Warriors players.

‘‘I was conscious of the timing of our discussions and importantly what effect it would have on Stephen, his family and the playing group,’’ George told Stuff.

‘‘But it was never in doubt, it was sorting out a few little things and when you’ve got two parties that have the same desire, it was pretty easy to get done quickly.

‘‘We both appreciated getting it done before the season was the important factor for everyone’s benefit.’’

Negotiations over a new contract between Kearney and the club had been going on for over six months, but Kearney said it was never a situation for him where he wanted to explore the market. For him, it was whether to remain with the Warriors or return to Brisbane.

‘‘The only other thought process in my mind was about going home and being close to my family,’’ Kearney said. ‘‘I made the decision to come over here in preparation for the 2017 season and we’ve made some progress over the last 12 to 18 months.

‘‘So it wasn’t about going out there and trying to find somewhere else, the only other factor was going home, mowing lawns and things like that.’’

It hasn’t been easy for Kearney to juggle family time with coaching the Warriors, but his daughters Samantha and Isabella are getting older, which should make things easier for himself and his wife, Piri.

Progress has been made by the Warriors under Kearney’s tenure, but the 46-year-old believes this is just the beginning of the journey. He didn’t want to walk away so early in it.

‘‘Absolutely it is [the beginning], it’s part of wanting to be better and part of where we want to go as a footy club.

‘‘We’ve got to make sure we keep marching towards what we want and that’s a good, footy club that’s constantly challenging,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘That’s an ongoing journey that never stops and that’s what we’re all here for.’’