Keane determined to realise his dream [Marlborough Express]
Earlier this month, Kieran Keane signed on for another two years as head coach of the Tasman Makos. He also agreed to a new role with the Tasman Rugby Union, as director of professional rugby. Express rugby writer Clay Wilson caught up with the former All Black at his home in Waikawa Bay to find out why he wanted to stay and what plans he has for New Zealand's newest provincial union....
There is a very good reason Tasman Makos head coach Kieran Keane took his time before re-signing earlier this month, even if his team had just won promotion to the top flight of New Zealand rugby's national provincial competition.
The Waikawa Bay resident and former All Black has a dream. And it wasn't until he knew he had the backing of the Tasman Rugby Union board and new chief executive Tony Lewis to pursue that dream, to make Tasman a real force in New Zealand rugby, that he was prepared to put pen to paper and stay on for two more years.
"My dream has always been, even when I was a child in Marlborough, that Tasman has a nationally recognised and credible team to represent them," said Keane.
"I really wanted to know the ambition of the union and understand what they wanted to do. That's why I took my time, because I thought it was an apt time for me to put my hand up and move on if they were not wanting to push on. I'm confident, in the discussions I've had with the board and the new CEO, they want to push on and become that force in NZ rugby.
"I'm a bloke that needs a challenge, and that's a massive challenge for me and this fledgling union."
This year's success has really sunk in for Keane over the past month. He now truly appreciates how "wonderful" it was for the players and the rugby communities on both sides of the hill and how rewarding it has been for the coaching and management staff.
However, he has also realised how important it is to make the most of that success.
"In reflecting over the last few weeks, I've come to realise just how important [that success] is. It has now put us on the national stage and it's hit me, we have to acknowledge that it was a great achievement, but we can't bathe in that glory. We have to move on and look forward because if we go flying backwards, nobody remembers."
In order to make his dream a reality, the union not only extended Keane's reign as Makos coach, they also created a new role for him as director of professional rugby. It means he is a fulltime union employee, something he is delighted about, and will be spending much more time in Marlborough than he has over the past several years.
While some of the specific objectives of his new role are still to be defined, Keane has a firm idea of what responsibility it entails.
"It's about making sure the momentum that we've got is maintained and we can carry on building and becoming a credible force in the national competition. The worst thing, in my opinion, would be to go up and come screaming back down. That means certain things have to change and certain responsibilities have to change . . . for example, we can't carry a squad of 25 anymore, those days are gone, we can't pay everyone the minimum.
"There is a little bit of freedom with this [new] position, but from my own perspective I think we need to create a credible pathway so our young players can see where they need to go, what they need to do and how they need to do it. That's never really been in existence.
"At present we have also retained the core of our successful team and that is the foundation that we will build our future on. Opportunity will come, I believe, through a development system and I've got to create that."
Although the on-field stuff will always be important, Keane sees several of the off-field aspects as key focuses of his new position.
"Unlocking" more sponsorship money is crucial and, as a man from this side of the Whangamoas, he said there was "no hiding that we need to do better on the Marlborough side and I've got to find a way to assist in that."
He was also adamant the union must find a way to keep players like Marlborough Boys' College first XV captain Atu Moli, who he called "the best thing running around in Marlborough rugby for several years," in the region.
Moli is leaving for Hamilton next year, largely for tertiary education reasons, and Keane said it was vital they dealt with their young players as people, just as much as players.
‘That's the same for a whole host of people. We can't stop that, so we have to find a way where people who are tertiary-orientated can still become Mako players, then it's a win-win for everybody.
"It's not just about rugby. There are two people involved, the player and the person, and we have to find a way to develop both. If it means tertiary education, we have to find a way. If it means trade certificates, we find a way. We have to find a way for that person and, also, develop the player."
Strength at club rugby level on both sides of the hill is another important piece of the puzzle and, according to Keane, the signs in that area were positive. He firmly believes in the combined Tasman Trophy (TT) competition, with each sub-union starting the season in their own competition, before moving into a full round of TT and finishing with semifinals and a final in both the Marlborough and Nelson Bays competitions.
Keane said the TT has "breathed life" into club rugby in the region and felt clubs and their people must get in behind it, using Picton's Waitohi club and their president Robin Beattie as an example.
"I think Tasman Trophy is a no-brainer, it's the way to go . . . but it also is a means to be noticed. It's a place where you can be measured and gain some recognition.
"The clubs have seen where the benchmark has gone to and they will either get behind each other and go seeking what they can, or they will sit in their clubrooms and grizzle about the difficulties in front of them. I believe club rugby and most rugby is about people and the people in your club, not just the players and supporters, but the people who govern and administer your club are seriously important.
"I understand and empathise with the difficulties they face, but if there's a will there's a way."
One aspect that provided the union with plenty of issues in the early years was the merging of two arch-rivals, Marlborough and Nelson Bays. It is no coincidence that success has come as that relationship has improved and, although he acknowledged Marlborough have had "their fair share of difficulty" in the partnership, Keane felt the relationship was currently in a good space. There was, however, still progress to be made.
"The barriers have dropped on the playing front, now we need to get the two communities together. That's the missing link at the moment.
"The cohesion and culture that exists between the Marlborough and Nelson players is outstanding and I believed that when people saw and witnessed that, they might change their mind [on the Tasman concept]. The players and administrators have led that, but the two communities are still a little bit behind."
On the field, the challenges of competing week-in, week-out with the country's best provincial teams are not lost on Keane. The bar has been, and will continue to be, set higher and he stressed "success is a moving target."
It is not all about speed and strength either and, especially with the high octane brand of rugby the Makos play, Keane said it was crucial players skill levels and game understanding matched their physical qualities.
A committed and supportive board, more sponsorship money, new development programmes, strong club competitions and a strong relationship between two sub-unions are all things Keane pinpoints as key in helping him achieve his dream. However, there appears to be one pivotal aspect that trumps all that.
Above all, leading the way in the union's drive towards the top, is his desperation for Tasman to succeed and a fierce determination to be the best coach he can possibly be.
"Being good at what I do drives me, it doesn't matter what it is. If I build a fence I want it to be a good fence, if I build a house I want it to be a nice house, if I build relationships I want them to last, and if I build a rugby team I want it to win.
"I'm a competitive man by nature. If something's worthwhile, you can't help but get touched by it and creating the newest provincial union in the country and making it a success is massively rewarding.
"If I can step out, when my time comes, and know [the union] is in a healthy state, I'll be a very relaxed and contented rugby man."
