Kearney, Stephen

Stephen KEARNEY [Player Stats]


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Melbourne Storm Team of the Decade announced
Sat June 23, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.au

Melbourne Storm tonight announced its "Team of the Decade" at the club's official 10th birthday Gala Dinner held at the National Gallery Victoria.

A crowd of close to 700 people saw many past and present players honoured with their induction into what has been judged to be the best team in Melbourne Storm's history.

Eight current players have been named in the line-up, while six retired players were also named. Three players who are still plying their trade with other clubs made up the remainder of the team.

Glenn Lazarus, the club's first big name signing, was named as captain of the team, while current coach Craig Bellamy was named as coach.

Storm CEO Brian Waldron said the members of the team of the decade showed just how many greats of the game had played for the club in its short history.

"The team is a collection of past greats and current champions," said Waldron.

"It's indicative of the strength of our future when current players such as Cam Smith, Billy Slater, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Inglis and many others are in this team announced tonight.

"It's also tremendous recognition for the likes of Glenn Lazarus, Marcus Bai, Matt Geyer and Stephen Kearney, just to name a few, for the outstanding contributions they have made to the club.

"The selection committee of John Ribot, Frank Stanton, Greg Brentnall and Steve Mascord had an extremely difficult time deciding the final 18 selected given the depth of talent this club has had in its brief but rich history."

TEAM OF THE DECADE:

Starting line-up:
1. Billy Slater
2. Matt Geyer
3. Matt King
4. Greg Inglis
5. Marcus Bai
6. Scott Hill
7. Brett Kimmorley
8. Glenn Lazarus - Captain
9. Cameron Smith
10. Robbie Kearns
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Stephen Kearney
13. Tawera Nikau

Interchange:
14. Rodney Howe
15. Dallas Johnson
16. David Kidwell
17. Cooper Cronk

Coach: Craig Bellamy

News sent by: www.melbournestorm.com.au


McCracken wins $97,000 in damages
Thu November 23, 2006
by Matthew O'Neill
Former New Zealand captain Jarrod McCracken has been awarded $97,000 in damages after suing the Melbourne Storm and former NRL players Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai.

McCracken's playing career was cut short in 2000 when he was on the end of a dangerous spear tackle from Kearney and Bai when playing for the Wests Tigers against the Storm at Olympic Park during the 2000 season.

Kearney received a lengthy suspension as a result of the incident and McCracken was forced into announcing his retirement after 10 seasons in the top grade.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme today awarded McCracken $97,500 in damages, saying the injuries were permanent and happened to someone who "rejoiced in ... his health and fitness."

"They also prevented him from continuing in a career for which he had a passion and which must have involved substantial satisfaction and reward in addition to that of a monetary nature," he said in his judgment.

However, Justice Hulme deferred any payment to McCracken for a "short period" so lawyers for both sides could look over the judgment and relist the matter if necessary.

McCracken had been seeking at least $750,000 in damages.

Now a successful property developer with $30 million in assets, McCracken did not receive any compensation for an alleged loss of earnings capacity stemming from his injuries.

Justice Hulme found McCracken's increased employment capacity in land purchase and development "was certainly contributed to by the consequences of his injury, and the need to replace his football income."

McCracken enjoyed a successful and controversial career spanning 10 seasons with Canterbury, Parramatta and Wests Tigers.

Playing in Port Macquarie during the 1990 season, McCracken was spotted by the late Peter Moore in the Grand Final where he was sent off, Moore quickly signed up McCracken when both Moore and St George CEO Geoff Carr traveled up to the mid-north coach to lure Rex Terp. Carr was successful in getting Terp and Moore settled for McCracken. It proved to be a wise signing with McCracken making an immediate impact during the 1991 season, but was suspended later in the year for biting. His 1992 was cut short by suspension receiving eight matches for a spear tackle on Manly's Matt Dunford.

McCracken's 1993-94 seasons were inconsistent there nagging injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential. His 1995 should have been one where he tasted Premiership success after playing in Canterbury's grand final loss in 1994. Instead McCracken became a central figure in the Super League war where he was signed by the ARL on big dollars. Whereas Jim Dymock, Dean Pay and Jason Smith got on with the job of playing football, Bulldogs coach Chris Anderson was left with no other option but to sack McCracken from the squad after refusing to play reserve grade, being an alleged recruitment officer within the Club for the ARL and boycotting Terry Lamb's farewell presention in the final round of the 1995 season. The Bulldogs united as one during the Finals with McCracken being forced to watch from his television set as Lamb led the Club to their 7th Premiership.

Moore in Canterbury's Annual Report for 1995 said, "Jim Dymock, Dean Pay and Jason Smith are all real good guys. They came to accept the fact the Club had to maintain its standards. I won't refer to the other bloke."

And later in his Chief Executive's report he stood up for Anderson's decision to axe McCracken, which he wrote, "A group of Canterbury supporters - a minority but very noisy - highly criticised Chris Anderson, particularly for his refusal to accommodate the fourth player (who refused to play Reserve Grade and boycotted Terry Lamb's farewell presentation party)."

McCracken signed with Parramatta along with Dymock, Pay and Smith and had four years at the Eels where they made the Finals in 1997, 1998 and 1999 only to crash out in spectacular fashion with McCracken co-captain in those three years. The 1998 loss was ironically against Canterbury were they led 18-2 and in ten dramatic minutes the Bulldogs forced the match into extra-time and ended up winning 32-20.

Following four years at the Eels, McCracken signed on a two-year deal with the Wests Tigers and his career was ended following a tackle from Kearney and Bai and was the Wests Tigers captain in their first season as a joint venture. Kearney retired at the end of 2004 and is now part of the Storm coaching staff and Bai is still playing in England.

McCracken made his Test debut for New Zealand in 1991 and was a member of the Kiwi side for many years alongside Kearney.

====================================================================================================== 2005 English Super League Hull FC 24 games; 5 tries, 20 points. [View] Round 6 [18 Mar 05] L 22-32 v Bulls (A). [SR] [View] Round 7 [25 Mar 05] W 20-16 v London (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 8 [28 Mar 05] L 15-21 v Wigan (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 10 [17 Apr 05] D 22-22 v Leigh (A). [SR] [View] Round 11 [24 Apr 05] L 34-36 v Warrington (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 12 [01 May 05] W 20-6 v Salford (H). [SR] [View] Round 13 [13 May 05] W 44-6 v St Helens (H). [SR] [View] Round 14 [22 May 05] W 35-28 v Wildcats (A). [SR] [View] Round 15 [28 May 05] L 24-42 v Bulls (H). [SR] [View] Round 16 [03 Jun 05] L 14-34 v Rhinos (A). [SR] [View] Round 17 [10 Jun 05] W 28-24 v Wigan (A). [SR] [View] Round 18 [17 Jun 05] W 30-16 v Leigh (H). [SR] [View] Round 19 [02 Jul 05] D 24-24 v London (A). [SR] [View] Round 20 [08 Jul 05] L 10-18 v St Helens (A). [SR] [View] Round 21 [16 Jul 05] W 34-24 v Huddersfield (H). [SR] [View] Round 22 [24 Jul 05] W 40-20 v Widnes (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 23 [07 Aug 05] L 16-17 v London (H). [BE] [View] Round 24 [14 Aug 05] W 76-20 v Leigh (H). [SR] [View] Round 25 [21 Aug 05] L 24-28 v Wigan (H). [SR] [View] Round 26 [02 Sep 05] L 6-49 v Bulls (A). [SR] [View] Round 27 [11 Sep 05] W 32-30 v Wildcats (A). [SR] [View] Round 28 [16 Sep 05] L 16-30 v Warrington (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Elimination Play Offs [24 Sep 05] W 40-6 v Warrington (A). [SR] [View] Elimination Semi-Final [01 Oct 05] L 0-71 v Bulls (A). [SR] ======================================================================================================

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