Storm captain to retire at end of the season

Melbourne Storm captain Robbie Kearns today announced he will retire from playing rugby league at the end of the 2005 NRL season.

Coming to the end of his 14th year in the NRL and after 280 NRL games including 166 for the Melbourne Storm, Kearns has chosen to focus on life after football and take up a role with the Melbourne Storm in marketing, promotion and development from 2006.

Kearns made the decision over the Storm’s bye weekend after many weeks of reflection and consideration. His decision allows one of the game’s greatest ever front rowers to end his career on his own terms and at the top of his game and to make a smooth transition to life after football.

“After 280 NRL games, plus however many more I play this year, I just feel the time is right to hang up my boots,” said Kearns.

“Retiring now gives me the chance to determine my own playing future rather than have someone else do it for me.”

Current Storm coach Craig Bellamy understands the importance of having a player of Kearns’ stature around the club.

“He’s obviously been a wonderful player for our club and for the game in general. With his outlook on life and footy he’s been a great leader for everyone at the club and a great help for the coaching staff,” said Bellamy.

“He’s played State-of-Origin and Test footy during his career and his durability to play at the top level for as long as he has is quite remarkable.

“For a player of his size, and in the position he plays, to still be playing at the top level is a great effort.”

Kearns will not be lost to Melbournians as he has accepted an offer to remain with the Club to fulfil a wide range of roles including football department duties, game development, promotional, and marketing and sponsorship responsibilities.

“My time here in Melbourne has been fantastic, I’ve loved every minute of it and this is my home now,” said Kearns.

“I’m thrilled to be given the chance to remain a part of the Storm with this new off-field role and I’m extremely glad to be a part of an exciting future developing the game in this state.”

Within the football department, Kearns, under the direction of the senior coach, will fulfil coaching duties and a mentoring role with the club’s forwards. He will also work closely with current manager of football operations Peter O’Sullivan in the recruitment of players to the club.

Kearns will also be employed by the VRL as an ambassador for the game. He will promote the game at the grassroots level and will be recognised as the ambassador for rugby league’s marquee events in Melbourne, helping to promote State-of-Origin and international matches played in Victoria including the Tri-Nations and World Cup fixtures in 2006 and 2008.

Although disappointed to be losing Kearns as a leader on the field, Storm CEO Brian Waldron is delighted he will be staying with the Storm in his new role.

“Robbie Kearns is synonymous with the Melbourne Storm,” said Waldron.

“As a foundation player he fully understands and supports the growth of the game in Victoria.

“His appointment in a full time role post-career with the Storm is extremely exciting for all associated with the club.

“Just like Peter Robinson, who will remain with the club in a promotional and developmental role after his retirement at the end of the year, we want good people here and Robbie is a great person.”

After being chosen as a reserve for Australia in the First Test against Great Britain at the end of 1997, and with the demise of Super League, Robbie was signed by Storm in 1998 from Perth.

After a great start to the season, he was chosen to play for New South Wales in Game III of the 1998 State-of-Origin series, and the Storm’s run to the preliminary final culminated in his selection in the Australian Test team, playing two games against New Zealand.

The following year should have been a great one for Kearns after his contribution to the team’s 20-14 win against New Zealand in the Anzac Test, but injury and bad luck conspired to ruin his season. Chosen in New South Wales’ State-of-Origin team, Kearns suffered a broken collarbone when thrown from a horse in a team bonding session during the Blues camp and subsequently missed the series.

Returning to the field, a corked leg kept him out of Melbourne’s victorious grand final team and Australia’s Tri-Series success.

In 2000, Kearns returned to his best form, playing prop for New South Wales in the Blues’ whitewash of Queensland, Test matches against New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and in Australia’s victorious World Cup squad. In England, Kearns played in all six matches of the competition, including the 40-14 victory over New Zealand in the final.

With two round matches to play in 2005 and the finals around the corner, Kearns has played for the Melbourne Storm on 166 occasions, crossing for 18 tries and scoring 72 points.

He represented Australia in 14 Tests scoring one try, as well as one for the Australian Super League team. He represented New South Wales on eight occasions in addition to the single appearance for New South Wales in Super League’s Tri-Series competition.