For embattled New Zealand rugby league coach Stephen Kearney, Christmas cannot come soon enough. It was a horror year for the Kiwis as they looked a shadow of the team that won the Four Nations last year. Jack Salter looks at how Kearney's coaching record stacks up against his predecessors.
Graham Lowe (1983-86)
Record: Nineteen games, 10 wins, eight losses, one draw.
Lowe had some mixed results. He shocked the rugby league world when he coached the Kiwis to an 18-0 win against Australia in 1985 only to see his team lose all three matches against its archrival the following year.
With a win ratio of 53%, Lowe was one of the more successful Kiwis coaches. He also had great success with Wigan and Manly.
Lowe was appointed chief executive of Manly in 2008 before having to step down earlier this year for health reasons.
Frank Endacott (1994-2000)
Record: Thirty-five games, 22 wins, 11 losses, two draws.
Endacott coached the Kiwis in more tests than any other coach and was widely respected by the players and the rugby league community.
He guided the Kiwis to a World Cup final in 2000, and in 1998 was the first Kiwis coach to win an Anzac test. The following year he backed that up with victory against Australia in a tri-series before losing to the Kangaroos in the final.
Endacott, who coached the Warriors in 1997-98, is currently running his own management business.
Gary Freeman (2001-02)
Record: Eight games, four wins, three losses, one draw.
Freeman, affectionately known as Wiz, was one of New Zealand's most successful halfbacks. He was appointed Kiwis coach on a two-year deal, on a handshake, with the understanding he would have the option of another two years when that time elapsed. But after the tour of Britain and France, where the Kiwis only lost one test, he was told that if he wanted the job he would have to live in New Zealand.
NZRL chairman Selwyn Pearson said at the time he used the residency rule to stop Freeman reapplying. The rule became known as the Freeman Rule and it would later be used to stop Brian McClennan from reapplying. Freeman is currently part of the Fox Sports commentary team.
Daniel Anderson (2003-05)
Record: Nine games, two wins, six losses, one draw.
Anderson was appointed Kiwis coach after a successful stint with the Warriors, where he took them to the finals in 2001 and the grand final in 2002.
Unfortunately for Anderson he could not translate that success to the Kiwis. He stood down after the Kiwis failed to win a game in the 2004 tri series.
The highlight of Anderson's time with the Kiwis was a 30-16 win against Australia in 2003.
With a win ratio of % 22 he was one of the less successful Kiwis coaches.
Anderson, who later coached St Helens and Parramatta, was part of the ABC Grandstand commentary team this year and is also the coach of Manu Samoa.
Brian McClennan (2005-07)
Record: Fourteen games, six wins, eight losses.
"Bluey", as he is affectionately known by many, had a no-nonsense approach to coaching.
His appointment was rather controversial because he had had no previous top-level coaching experience. But he was well liked by the players and was never afraid to speak his mind.
McClennan was ousted as Kiwis coach when the NZRL used the residency law to make him choose between the Kiwis and the Leeds Rhinos in 2007.
He had a win ratio of 43% with the highlights of his coaching career being a 24-0 thumping of Australia in 2005. He followed that up with a tri-nations victory that same year.
While at Leeds, McClennan had a successful reign, coaching the team to two super league grand final wins. Warriors fans are waiting with bated breath to see how he goes coaching the side next year.
Gary Kemble (2007)
Record: Six games, one win, five losses.
Kemble took over from McClennan in controversial circumstances. The decision was disastrous as it soon became apparent he was out of his depth.
Under Kemble the Kiwis suffered their largest defeat when they were beaten 58-0 in the centenary test. This was followed by an equally bad tour, during which the Kiwis were beaten 44-0 in the second test against Great Britain. Kemble's only win came in the final test against France.
He would eventually step down after captain Roy Asotasi and other senior players expressed no confidence in him.
He is currently coaching the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland competition.
Stephen Kearney (2008-present)
Record: Twenty-three games, 12 wins, 10 losses, one draw.
Kearney took over the Kiwis after Kemble's disastrous reign.
The former Kiwis forward had the respect of the players and his laid-back approach was received with open arms by the rugby league community.
Fresh from an assistant coaching role with the Melbourne Storm, Kearney took to the national role like a duck to water. Along with assistant coach Wayne Bennett, he helped stun the rugby league world when he guided the Kiwis to their first World Cup win with a 34-20 victory against Australia. This was the highlight of Kearney's career and he backed it up with a Four Nations win.
This year has not been so good for the Kiwis. Under Kearney the Kiwis were beaten three times by Australia and looked ill-prepared in the Four Nations, with their only win coming against lowly Wales.
The NZRL did a back-flip on its previous stance on the residency rule when it allowed Kearney to coach Paramatta and the Kiwis at the same time. His year at Paramatta has not gone gone well and, after only winning six of 24 matches, he will be wanting to improve markedly or he could be ousted by a club not known for its patience.
