STEPHEN Kearney, the man most likely to takeover as coach of Parramatta next season, would have a vastly different approach to the team than his predecessor.
That is the view of Melbourne backrower Todd Lowrie, who played under the Storm assistant coach this year and was part of Daniel Anderson’s Eels last year.
“They are very different people,’’ Lowrie told the Advertiser.
“They are completely different people and completely different coaches.
“I think (Kearney) will be very interactive with the players.
“The senior playing group will have a lot of input into how they play.
“Daniel had a lot of success and locked things into how he wanted them done.
“And we had success while I was there.
“But ‘Mooks’ is one of those blokes who will give the players a lot of say.’‘
While this would be Kearney’s debut as an NRL head coach, he is no stranger to the rigors of the job.
“To be fair, he sort of took over the coaching role,’’ Lowrie said of Kearney’s season.
“Through the middle of the year when (head coach Craig Bellamy) was away, Mooks was coaching the side single-handedly.
“Bellamy was at Origin and Mooks became the head man for a number of weeks.’‘
Lowrie said Kearney worked players hard and had a defensive emphasis.
“He expects a lot of players, which is how he played his career,’’ he said.
“He is very defensive-oriented, which is what most of our club is.
“And being a recent player, he still knows the game.’’
Vatuvei backs Kearney to succeed in NRL
Giant Kiwis winger Manu Vatuvei sees Wayne Bennett-like traits in Stephen Kearney and says the Kiwis mentor would revel in a head coaching role in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Vatuvei, a key member of that World Cup squad, today gave Kearney a glowing reference, saying his credentials pointed to success at club level.
"He's already put his mark on the game and he's a well respected coach by all the players," Vatuvei told NZPA.
"Everyone listens to him and trusts he can take them to a different level because he's proven himself.
"He's been there and done that, as a player and a coach."
Vatuvei said Kearney was similar to Bennett, the current St George Illawarra coach.
The New Zealand Warriors winger also felt a head coaching role with the Eels could only be good for the Kiwis.
"Coaching at club level on a daily basis will make him even better," Vatuvei said.
"I think he'll just develop into a coach like a Wayne Bennett. He's a person who is always straight up with the boys and he's just so well respected."
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*Places own head into hangman's noose*
KEARNEY IS NOT COMING TO THE EELS - END OF STORY.
Oh how I wish I could be wrong.
Put your money on Henjak's job.
There you go PA - I will either end up looking like the biggest goose of all time but I WILL post a blog when all is revealed.
The title of my blog will be - "I told you so all along"
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