Footy Great Tony Kemp Details Bitter NRL Coaching Exit

Former New Zealand Warriors coach Tony Kemp has publicly shared his deep disappointment and anger regarding his dismissal from the club in 2005. Kemp, a celebrated figure with over 280 elite-level football matches to his name, was let go after less than two seasons at the helm, a decision he claims was mishandled by club management.

At the heart of Kemp’s grievance is his interaction with John Hart, who served as the club’s executive director of football at the time. Kemp expressed his lasting resentment towards Hart’s conduct, stating, “I’ll never forgive John Hart for the way that he treated me.” He described a deceptive approach where Hart would engage in seemingly supportive conversations, saying, “He used to wine and dine me up at his house with breakfasts and all that, talk about sh*t, and blow wind up my a**e, and then he sacks me.”

Successor Appointed Amidst Sacking

The position vacated by Kemp was filled by Ivan Cleary, who is now the head coach of the Penrith Panthers. Kemp revealed his suspicion that Cleary was being positioned as his successor even before his own contract was terminated. “The way that he was sort of grooming Ivan for the position, and I’ve never spoken about this before. It was really hard to take,” Kemp commented.

Kemp, 58, had dedicated years to the Warriors organization, serving as an assistant coach before being appointed head coach following the departure of Daniel Anderson. He recounted the emotional toll his sacking took, admitting, “I put my life into that club for so many years, and I remember …. having a cry in the car… you know… and (thinking) sh*t, my coaching career is over.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Kemp acknowledged that while some aspects of his exit could have been managed better, he emphasized the rarity of the opportunity to coach the Warriors in New Zealand. “I gave it my best crack, there’s parts of it [my exit] that could have been handled better. But tell me, how many blokes in New Zealand have had a chance to coach the Warriors?” Kemp questioned.

Cleary’s Tenure and Team Performance

Ivan Cleary took over as head coach at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Under his leadership, the Warriors achieved considerable success, reaching the finals in four out of his six full seasons. The team’s most notable achievement during Cleary’s tenure was their appearance in the 2011 NRL Grand Final, where they ultimately lost to the Manly Sea Eagles.