Tony Kemp
Encyclopedia
Tony Kemp is a former New Zealand
rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors
. He currently is a commentator for Māori Television
s coverage of the Auckland Rugby League
competition and also serves on the NZRL Board
.
but raised in Waitara
, and attended Waitara High School
. He played rugby league
for the Randwick Kingfishers in the Wellington Rugby League
competition and in 1987 made the Junior Kiwis
.
in 1988. He later played for the Castleford Tigers
, South Queensland Crushers
, Leeds Rhinos
and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
.
In 2000 Kemp, along with all of the other players aged over 24, had his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats terminated due to the clubs financial crisis.
.
After two years of playing for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
he retired to take over from Andy Kelly
as head coach. He helped save the club from relegation before leaving to return home to New Zealand.
In 2001 Kemp became the assistant coach behind Daniel Anderson
at the New Zealand Warriors
. He openly said that he wanted to be the next head coach after Anderson. Kemp got his wish, taking over from Anderson when he was sacked half way through the 2004 season. Kemp was in charge for a season and a half before being sacked himself.
In 2010 he was appointed team manager of the New Zealand Kiwis.
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. He currently is a commentator for Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
s coverage of the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition and also serves on the NZRL Board
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
.
Early years
Kemp was born in WhangareiWhangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
but raised in Waitara
Waitara, New Zealand
Waitara is the name of a town and a river in the northern part of the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is located just off State Highway 3, 15 km northeast of New Plymouth....
, and attended Waitara High School
Waitara High School
Waitara High School is a state secondary school in Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand. It was founded in 1947 and celebrated its 60th Jubilee in 2007...
. He played rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for the Randwick Kingfishers in the Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
competition and in 1987 made the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
.
Playing career
In 1986/87 he joined the Doncaster for a season before taking up a professional career fulltime when he joined the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1988. He later played for the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
, South Queensland Crushers
South Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
, Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
.
In 2000 Kemp, along with all of the other players aged over 24, had his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats terminated due to the clubs financial crisis.
International career
Kemp first made the New Zealand Kiwis in 1989 and went on to play twenty five games for New Zealand. He ended his international career after the 1995 World Cup1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
.
Coaching
While at Leeds in 1998 he coached the Alliance team to a championship win.After two years of playing for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
he retired to take over from Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly (rugby league)
Andy Kelly is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity , Hull Kingston Rovers and Illawarra Steelers, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12....
as head coach. He helped save the club from relegation before leaving to return home to New Zealand.
In 2001 Kemp became the assistant coach behind Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson (rugby league)
Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...
at the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. He openly said that he wanted to be the next head coach after Anderson. Kemp got his wish, taking over from Anderson when he was sacked half way through the 2004 season. Kemp was in charge for a season and a half before being sacked himself.
In 2010 he was appointed team manager of the New Zealand Kiwis.