Robbie Kearns


Robbie Kearns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, and 2000s. An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Western Reds and the Melbourne Storm.

Early life

Born in Sydney, New South Wales. Kearns was educated at St John Bosco College, Engadine.
Robbie played junior football for the Engadine Dragons and St John Bosco Bulldogs. He then signed with Cronulla Sharks.

Playing career

He made his First Grade Debut for the Cronulla Sharks in Round 1 v Brisbane at Lang Park, 20 March 1992, becoming a regular in the Cronulla Sharks side.
Kearns signed with the Western Reds for 1997. In the 1997 post season, he was selected to play for Australia from the interchange bench in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain.
Kearns signed on with the newly created Melbourne Storm for the 1998 NRL season. That year he was named the club's player of the year. Having won the 1999 Premiership, the Melbourne Storm travelled to England to contest the 2000 World Club Challenge against Super League Champions St Helens R.F.C., with Kearns captaining at prop forward in the victory. In 2000 Kearns was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. Kearns captained the Melbourne Storm from 2000 to 2002 and again in 2005. At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour He was again named the Storm's player of the season in 2003 and he went on the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, helping Australia to victory over Great Britain in what would be the last time the two nations contested an Ashes series. He retired at the conclusion of the 2005 season after a 13-year career but remained with the Melbourne Storm in a marketing capacity.
Melbourne Storm released a 'team of the decade' as part of their 10-year celebrations in 2007, with Kearns named at prop.

Representative career

283 career games to date scoring 31 tries, 2 goals