Makos' stint highlight of coach Keane's career ... so far
Tasman head coach Kieran Keane joins up with the Chiefs after completing a successful seven years with the Makos.
Kieran Keane is the most successful coach in the Tasman Makos' short history. The vastly-experienced 61-year-old has been at the helm of the nation's newest rugby union's flagship team for seven years, helping it become a major force on the provincial scene. Before he headed to a new role at the Chiefs, he chatted with rugby writer Peter Jones about his time in the top of the south.
He's coached rugby players for nearly 40 years, but Kieran Keane's time at Tasman tops it all.
"It's been the highlight for me, so far," said Keane. "Because I've lived through the lows and got to the highs, so there has been an element of satisfaction that has come out of that.
Kieran Keane, left, shares a joke with his successsor, Leon MacDonald, during an NPC game at Nelson's Trafalgar Park.
"I had always wanted to coach Tasman, coming from here and having such a connection with the place, and a history."
He got his wish in 2009, but could never have envisaged the pot-holed path he would tread as the fledgling union struggled to find its feet. Tasman finished ninth in an amalgamated NPC in his first year, 12th in his second and slumped to bottom of the championship in 2011.
"The lowlight was when we went to the bottom," recalls Keane. "We were in trouble financially and we had all sorts of issues within the union. That pervaded right through to the flagship team and it was a real struggle.
"Having to work crazy hours on a shoestring … it was hard yards. But the people in my management group had a passion to stick with it. Nobody likes to go out a failure so we hung in like a poor relation … we were basically a bit brassed off with how things unfolded so we went to the union and formulated a plan, once the New Zealand union had given us the green light to stay. It became quite personal."
Neither Keane nor assistant coach Leon MacDonald wanted to preside over a failing outfit so took bold steps to remedy the situation.
"We were brassed off … so instead of dealing with a certain profile of player and putting up with some nonsense, we brought out a few sledgehammers. Basically culled a few people and rebuilt the team.
"We cracked the whip a bit, made some hard decisions, rolled our sleeves up. We got a game that suited the clientele … that they wanted to play. Although we weren't that good at that stage it was quite exciting, an interesting hybrid to what most people were playing.
"We persevered with that, added to it, and got some buy-in from the boys who seemed to enjoy themselves. It also promoted them a lot better so they were interested. We had to get rid of the 'entertainers' tag. We were brave attackers, gutless defenders. That's how it started."
And success followed. In 2012 the Makos reached the semi finals, then won the championship a year later. In 2014 they reached the premiership final, the first newly-promoted side to do so, and finished third this season.
Keane was not surprised by his team's turnaround. "We got what we deserved really. We worked a lot harder … a much more professional outfit, much cleverer with a very good management team … all the things that build success. There was no rocket science about it, just good honest, straight-to-the-point endeavour."
He and MacDonald also altered the Makos culture, building an environment that encouraged success and made the players keen to stay.
"It's always been a friendly place to be at so we drove that and made it even more friendly. We drove a culture that was inclusive, with everybody involved and little or no hierarchy. Everybody was treated the same, certainly from my perspective.
"We cared a hell of a lot about our players, especially the young ones because they brought energy, and we cared a lot about them being successful. We gave the younger players a chance to succeed, by bringing them in when they were ready, not throwing them under a bus. With their success we were able to build depth in the group. There were some gambles amongst it, and some failures, but not many.
"That worked really well for us. That type of thinking was something I was pretty chuffed about really."
Keane admits he had battled personally during the tough times, but had support in all the right places.
"The early adversity was the tipping point for the management and the union.
"Guys like Peter Barr. He did a magnificent job … then the influx of Andrew Flexman and latterly Tony [Lewis] they were both very good CEOs who backed us all the way.
"There was time when I was struggling, but because I had such a good management group around me, whose company I enjoyed, I hung in there. Nipper [Brett Thornalley] has been there for ever, Candace [Donovan] has done a wonderful job … our manager Jenelle [Strickland] and latterly Marty [Vercoe] and of course Leon, who was my right hand man at the time. It was not like any of us were ready to bail. There was a lot of resolve there and a lot of character in that group.
I didn't have a lot of choices anyway, it was a bit of a sink or swim for me. But I'm not one to walk away from a challenge."
Despite riding the provincial rugby rollercoaster with Tasman for so long the former schoolteacher has few regrets.
"There are a few personal regrets, but they won't worry me because I'll make sure I don't make the same mistakes again. I don't look back a lot, I think it's wasteful. It's better to look forward.
"I'm regretful that we were under par this season. I saw the writing on the wall after game six and it worried me and I had regrets about that. But sometimes these things are out of your hands and by then the horse had bolted."
Keane has high hopes for the continued success of the union and its flagship side. He described the team's 2016 draw as "a beauty" and said both the union and the Makos were in very good hands.
However, one dark cloud remained on the horizon - Tasman's on-going relationship with Canterbury and the Crusaders.
"The relationship with the big brother has never been much good. Largely we have had the short end of the stick … big brother has remained big brother, whether it be political, or selectorial, financial or where the games are held … it has actually been at the behest of Canterbury and the Crusaders.
"I think Tasman would be advised to build their relationship there, because [Canterbury] are a powerhouse and they have a lot of resource that Tasman never get near, in a number of areas. [The relationship] needs to be improved on for Tasman to remain a top tier side."
The former inside back, who played six games for the All Blacks in 1979, is renowned as a hard-nosed abrasive character with a coaching style to match. He claims to have mellowed during his time with the Makos, although a few of his charges may disagree.
"I'm a much more moderate person now," said Keane. "I will reflect on things, although I still have my moments. I have always found that speaking my mind is a shortcut to getting where I want to go. Sometimes it ruffled a feather or two but all the boys knew they were going to get it as I saw it and most seemed to enjoy that.
"The game has changed, the players have changed and I had to change. Otherwise I would have died [as a coach].
"It's been quite moving actually … it has actually made me a better person. I have always had a feel for the game and a love of the game, but this evolution of coaching has actually turned me into a much nicer human being at the same time. I'm grateful for that."
So now it is on to the Chiefs, and his second Super Rugby stint, after being an assistant coach to Jamie Joseph at the Highlanders in 2010-11.
He will be one of four coaches at the Hamilton-based franchise, alongside head coach Dave Rennie, Andrew Strawbridge and Neil Barnes. Keane has attended pre-season coaching meetings and enjoyed the environment.
"Dave is a very inclusive guy. He has given each of a portfolio to be responsible for. Mine is based around attack but we are also able to chip in with ideas. It is a very collaborative organisation."
As his coaching career moves in another new direction, there is no thought of easing off for the man who has mentored rugby players at all levels every year since 1978.
"I'm pretty fired up about coaching. My time has come at Tasman and I think I have done the right thing. The time is right for the young colt [MacDonald] to lead the way. He's certainly ready for it and will do a great job.
"It was the right moment for me to go. The boys were probably getting sick of old four eyes. There are some things that I won't miss – but only a few.
"What happens after the Chiefs, I don't know. It's really exciting.
"I think I was born to coach, that's where I get all my pleasure. I have no aspirations to do anything else. I have met so many good people through rugby, made so many friends … it has been good to me. It's given me a lot."
