NRL: Storm won't stymie Kearney's ambition

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. Photo / Getty Images

The Melbourne Storm will not block Stephen Kearney's career path should the Kiwis coach opt to trade his assistant's role at the National Rugby League (NRL) club for the top job at Parramatta.

Kearney, a member of the Storm's inaugural premiership-winning team in 1999, has been on the club's coaching staff alongside Craig Bellamy since 2006.

He is the leading candidate to replace Daniel Anderson at the Eels after the former New Zealand Warriors coach was sacked last night in response to Parramatta's failure to make this year's finals series.

Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said he had yet to hear from Kearney, but said the club would not stand in his way should he seek a release from his commitment with the club.

"If Steve wants to come to us with a special request, he's been a very long and loyal servant to the club, we wouldn't want to hold him back if the circumstances were right," Gauci said.

"There's no question he'll be a successful senior coach at some time."

Anderson celebrated his first season in charge by guiding the Eels to the 2009 grand final - where they were beaten by the salary-cap rorting Storm.

Installed as the pre-season title favourites the Eels faded to 12th this season, an outcome that saw Anderson axed with a year remaining on his contract.

Former Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks coach Ricky Stuart is another candidate for the Eels vacancy though Kearney is the preferred option.

Meanwhile current Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith, who gave Anderson his break in coaching with a reserve grade role at Parramatta in 1999, expected to see Anderson return to top level coaching.

"Daniel will come out the other side, it won't be the end of him, there are other people in the game that rate him really highly," he said.

- NZPA