League: Marked as a leader from the beginning

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. Photo / Getty Images

There is always conjecture on whether coaches are born or made, but Stephen Kearney seemed destined to lead.

Still only 38 years old, Kearney will begin his fourth year in charge of the Kiwis this week but, according to former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, he was tracking for the role from an early age.

Around the same time the All Blacks were winning the 1987 Rugby World Cup, Endacott met Kearney for the first time - and noticed traits that continue to serve him well.

"He showed me signs as a 15-year-old at the training camps that he was going to be something special," says the former Kiwi coach. "You could see in the early stages he was going to be a big player in the sport."

The then Canterbury coach was giving a lecture at an elite training camp in 1987 in Ngaruawahia in front of a group of mostly wide-eyed nervous youngsters. Except for one.

"There was this lad in the front row who was making notes of everything that was said," recalls Endacott. "It was just him and one other up the front and then there was a big gap in the middle. Most of the kids were a bit intimidated and sat in the back two rows.

"When I asked for questions, I got about 25 - and I think 23 came from him."

Later Endacott cast an eye over the skills sessions, asking the coaches about the identity of the inquisitive youngster.

"They told me he was from Wellington and his name was Kearney. I immediately said to them that lad will go a long, long way; mark my words."

Just five years later Kearney was in the NRL playing for the Western Suburbs Magpies and, at the age of 21 became New Zealand's youngest test captain, when Howie Tamati relieved Gary Freeman of the responsibility in 1993.

Endacott and Kearney would be reunited at the Warriors for a time, and Kearney was also a mainstay of the Kiwis during the Cantabrian's seven-year spell as national coach.

"I remember flying to England for tours with Stephen on many occasions," says Endacott. "Other players would be sleeping or having a quiet beer but he was always on a laptop. He was always very studious and wanting to learn.

"Some people might find that a bit nerdy," laughs Kearney. "I don't like to be singled out - I think everybody was doing things that made them better players in their own way. I always took an interest in how things operated and I was a fairly well-planned kind of player.

"I was never blessed with blistering speed or the skills of someone like Sonny Bill but I was always trying to find ways to make myself better and how I could improve as a player."

Under Kearney the Kiwis have played a much more conservative game than the style that characterised New Zealand league in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

Some of the flair may have diminished (though any side with Benji Marshall will always have the capacity to entertain) but no one can argue with the results, nor the pride in the jersey over the last three years.

Structure and systems have laid the platform for success and that was always going to be the main element in the Kearney template.

Endacott calls Kearney one of the most organised people he has ever met.

"He is very disciplined and that comes across in his coaching. He is a stickler for doing the basics.

"Although in his playing days he did get white line fever. He turned into a different animal out on the park - full of aggression."