Closing the gap on Australia is Kearney's main goal. To do that, he must continue to develop the vast array of talented youth in the New Zealand game, he has to find his own identity as a coach, and above all else, he has to instil a passion and desire that ensures that even in defeat, his Kiwis team can make a nation proud.
The sleeping pills saga has threatened to overshadow the enormity of that defeat in Manchester. New Zealand has been humbled before - but not since 1988 at Eden Park has a Kiwis team performed so badly on such a big occasion.
The Kiwis don't usually beat Australia but they always fire a shot, or two. There are always moments of resistance, sometimes moments of magic, but Kearney's side offered a big fat nothing when it mattered.
Perhaps the implosion in the final shouldn't have been such a surprise.
There had been worrying signs before the final. England dominated the last 20 minutes of the semifinal, as the Kiwis forwards seemed to grind to a halt, and only the sheer determination of Sonny Bill Williams and some magic footwork from Shaun Johnson got the Kiwis out of jail. The Kiwis lacked fluidity during the group matches, and some of Kearney's selections for their biggest match in five years were puzzling.
Was the talented but erratic Kevin Locke really the best choice to play fullback (ahead of long time regular Josh Hoffman) on a heavy ground, against the ruthless men in green and gold? Was Bryson Goodwin, for all his whole-hearted endeavour, the best centre option in a World Cup final? And how was there no room for Greg Eastwood, who offers such a point of difference on both attack and defence?
Kearney had the team for almost seven weeks in the northern hemisphere. It was an in-form Kiwis squad; stronger on paper than several sides of the last decade.
In reality, the NZRL had little choice but to re-appoint Kearney. David Kidwell was realistically the only other contender but as NZRL CEO Phil Holden pointed out, they have invested heavily in Kearney, developing him over the last six years and going with another international rookie (like Kidwell or Glenn Morrison) would be a risk.
Since the early 1980s, there have arguably been three great Kiwis coaches. Lowe (1983-86) built a new belief in the Kiwis jumper, and constructed a team that was probably the best in the world for an 18-month period in 1984 and 1985.
His motivational abilities were legendary.
Endacott (1995-2000) achieved three victories over the Kangaroos, more than any other coach of the modern era. His special talent was uniting a group of NRL players under their national flag and always enabling his teams to play with traditional Kiwi flair.
McClennan (2005-07) masterminded two famous wins over the Kangaroos, as well as several other spellbinding performances. He treated each match like a special project and came up with innovative plays and selections (remember Shontayne Hape at lock) and focused on bringing the Australians down from their superhuman status. Kearney is yet to develop his trademark. His teams play a structured game, honed from Kearney's long tenure at the Melbourne Storm. But against the Australians, you generally need something more, something extra, something special.
It's a fine, fine balance but Kearney has to find a way to bring out the natural flair of the New Zealand players. When you are facing the masters of the league universe, it's a big ask to beat them at their own game.
"I've had six years in the role and there has been a lot of good stuff that we have done well but it all gets [forgotten] with a performance like the World Cup final," Kearney told the Herald on Sunday. "I don't want to throw everything away... there will be adjustments in the way I do certain things but I am not going to drastically change my philosophy on the back of one poor performance and it is important to stress that."
Thankfully there are other reasons for hope. Kearney retains the faith and backing of the dressing room, and the 41-year-old deserves credit for blooding young talent.
The Kiwis' World Cup squad had an average age of 25 (the Kangaroos, almost 29). The players should be coming into their prime while the Australians can't go on forever.
