Warriors interim coach Todd Payten described the news of Stephen Kearney's sacking as 'like a death in the family'. Video / Warriors / NRL
An Australian rugby league writer has put the boot into the Warriors after the club fired head coach Stephen Kearney, claiming they "historically have no idea" how to assemble an NRL title-winning team.
Paul Kent, a league writer for the Sydney Telegraph, wrote about the state of the NRL's coachingtroubles, calling out several struggling teams with coaches whose jobs are on the line.
Kent said the Warriors' "stunning decision" to dump Kearney after their 40-12 thrashing at the hands of the Rabbitohs saw the Kiwi coach "swoop past Paul McGregor (Dragons), Dean Pay (Bulldogs), Paul Green (Cowboys) and John Morris (Sharks) as the first coach to be sacked this season".
He argued that coaching isn't always the issue and that some clubs — including the Warriors — don't know how to assemble an NRL title winning side.
"The coaching lottery currently taking up a third of the competition has revealed just how little some clubs know about the art of assembling a premiership winning roster," Kent wrote.
"The Warriors — and not Kearney — historically have no idea. In 25 years the club has no premierships against two grand final appearances, which came about more because the Warriors got hot and rolled through on momentum than any grand plan."
Stephen Kearney at the post-match press conference after the Warriors' loss to the Rabbitohs. Photo / Photosport
Kent said club head offices have to look at themselves in their role in many of their struggles.
"Few head offices are willing to admit their part in the club's struggle, happy to shop the coach if it means keeping their blazers remain freshly steamed and ironed.
"Coaches do not get into roster trouble all by themselves."
Even the help of coaching legend Wayne Bennet, who has been linked with the vacant Warriors job, won't help the Kiwi side, Kent wrote.
"Wayne Bennett is about to have the busiest schedule in the NRL," he quipped.
"According to latest numbers, Bennett will coach the Warriors next season on Mondays and Thursdays, the Dragons on Fridays and Tuesdays, and Canterbury every third week."
The league scribe pointed to several coaches who have managed to succeed in building a successful roster, including the seven-time NRL title winner Bennett, Storm's Craig Bellamy, Rooster's Trent Robinson and Kiwis and Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
However, even those coaches might not be able to save many of the "battling clubs", he argued.
"Bennett's appeal is the seven premierships that testify to his ability to know what a premiership-winning roster looks like.
"For similar reasons, Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson are also valued, although unavailable to the struggling clubs.
"Could any of them save some of these battling clubs? Not quickly."
