League: Kearney says it's time to move on

1.00pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

SYDNEY - Stephen Kearney faced the future of the Kiwis rugby league side here at Aussie Stadium yesterday and it simply reinforced his decision to distance himself from test and NRL football.

The veteran of 264 NRL games was put through the mill one last time as the stronger, bigger Bulldogs stormed into next week's preliminary final with a commanding 43-18 defeat of Melbourne.

Typically, second rower Kearney - the Storm skipper - did his best to thwart the Bulldogs but it was to no avail as they set a course for Penrith next Saturday night.

Success against the reigning premiers at Aussie Stadium will see them into the October 3 grand final.

Sonny Bill Williams, who made his test debut alongside Kearney in April's Anzac test, was a particular handful for the 32-year-old, confirming his belief that Hull in the English Super League is the place to wind down a career dating back to 1992.

"When you've got big men coming at you like Sonny with good footwork it makes your job that much harder," said Kearney after the 19-year-old made an impressive impact from the interchange bench.

Williams made plenty of yards and also put some big hits on the seasoned campaigner. He also had enough savvy to earn a couple of penalties at Kearney's expense.

"Yeah, he milked a few. He's a big lad and with the size of our team a real important part for us is to try and wrestle them and slow the play the ball up a bit."

Though he was on the receiving end from Williams yesterday, Kearney could not help but marvel at his talent and bright future in black.

"I know the Kiwis jersey is in better hands than mine with someone like Sonny," said Kearney who curtailed his career at 45 caps -- one short of New Zealand and world record holder Gary Freeman.

"Then there's the Penrith boys (Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua), Frankie Pritchard (also Penrith) ...."

The former Wellingtonian emphasised he was comfortable with his decision to retire from internationals ahead of next month's Tri-Series.

"There's definitely no chance I'll change my mind. That was a big decision I made 3-4 weeks ago.

"I thought my time was up with the Kiwis. I thought I could have still played and be part of the squad but my first tour was in '93 you know ...."

Kearney, who became the Kiwis youngest test captain on that tour of Great Britain, will reunite with former Melbourne and Kiwis hooker Richard Swain at Hull after Christmas so there was never any likelihood of him answering an injury-inspired SOS when the series moves to England.

Instead he will watch the tests with wife Piri and young daughters Samantha and Isabella, confident a new breed of Kiwis will swiftly find their feet in the absence of himself, Swain and fellow international retiree Stacey Jones.

"Stacey is a big hole to fill so it's a development stage but it's a chance for the young blokes to step up and make the jersey theirs."

Kearney, who has signed for a season with Hull, was looking forward to a more sedate schedule in Super League in order to ease his creaking body to the finish line of an impressive career.

His 264 games is a NRL record for a New Zealander and yesterday he made his 139th appearance for the Storm, a club he took to his heart after leaving the Auckland Warriors at the end of 1998.

"Obviously it's a little sad but the whole journey, the six years I've spent with the club, has been a highlight," Kearney said of his time at the code's unfashionable Victorian outpost.

"It's been a great club to me and I leave it in pretty good shape."

Mirroring the Kiwis scene, Melbourne also had a crop of promising players coming through.

"The likes of Ryan Hoffman and Dallas Johnson. They'll be there for many years to come."

Kearney admitted there was also a feeling of satisfaction that this chapter of his career had closed.

"I'm a little bit relieved too ... the (NRL) competition is very intense and demanding. It takes a lot of time away from your family. Hopefully I can get a chance to spend a bit more time with them now."

While his test career is over Kearney was happy to hear second rower David Kidwell and prop Alex Chan were last night added to the Kiwis training squad for the trans-Tasman test against Australia in Auckland on October 16.

- NZPA