Sean Kearns opens up about why he stopped playing for Waratahs

Sean Kearnes, who was named man of the match in last year’s grand final win, won’t be among those playing, or even cheering, for the Wagga club at Leeton No.1 Oval on Saturday.

Instead he’s preparing for deployment to Afghanistan next year.

Kearns hasn’t played since the start of the second round.

He was the captain against Wagga City on that occasion, but knew when he received orders to deploy back to the war​ his two seasons with the club had to come to an end.

“I wasn’t as fit as I should have been, and from early in the season my shoulder and elbow, both of which have had previous surgeries, dominated my recovery efforts and began to limit my contribution to training during the week,” Kearns said.

“Managing my body week to week through this incredibly tough season was not congruent with preparing for war.

“I was struggling to be fit each week, and had become incapable of performing the physical aspects of intensive military training.”

There was also the need to spend more time with wife Maeve and daughter Freya before their move away Wagga and his nine-month tour in the war zone.

“Balancing ongoing responsibilities at Kapooka with the duty to prepare myself and my team physically, mentally and with the skill sets necessary for operations in Afghanistan is not time-friendly,” Kearns said.

“These things, combined with a personal commitment to strengthen the relationships I have with my wife and my daughter before I deploy, all meant something had to be sacrificed.​”

Kearns said the hardest thing was telling teammates he couldn’t fulfill the commitment he’d made to them at the start of the season.

“Though the decision was not made lightly, and came with considerable toil and anguish, I took confidence in the fact that I wouldn’t be missed,” he said.

“The club is very well led by the dedicated committee and coaches, the club captain Tim Corcoran and senior players, and it does not want for talent.”

The hard working loose forward has made quite the impact on the club.

Not only was it his efforts on the field during this season and the last, but with his leadership as well.

The 38-year-old admitted it has been difficult to watch from the sidelines.

“I miss the camaraderie, I miss the competition, I miss my daughter mimicking us through the post match cool-downs,” Kearns said.

While last year’s undefeated premiership is an obvious highlight, playing in what he described as a “mud bath” in Griffith last year is another fond memory.

“Griffith were in great form at home, and the wet conditions brought both teams very close together,” Kearns said.

“In my opinion, it was a definable match for us.

“Winning in those conditions, away in Griffith, I took great confidence that we could go all the way.”