
He is fairly excited about what the future might hold, though.
Like supporters, Kean is eager to see what Joseph can do with the Highlanders as he returns to the head coaching role a decade after winning the club’s sole championship.
"We believe again we’ll be very competitive this year," Kean told the Otago Daily Times.
"Will we be contenders? Who knows? But that’s the word we want to get into our culture at some stage.
"And if it’s not this year, it’ll certainly be next year and beyond."
The Highlanders have not had a full winning season since 2018.
While they have made the playoffs in two of the past three years, they have really only provided nuisance value, and that achievement gets tougher this year with just six teams, not eight, qualifying for knockout rugby thanks to the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels.
It is arguably fanciful to think the Highlanders can sustain a title charge against the likes of the Blues, Chiefs and Brumbies, but Kean likes the direction in which the team are heading.
"I don’t think we expect Jamie to perform miracles, but he’s come in with all his experience and with his knowledge and with his passion for the club, and he’s assembled a pretty good coaching group.
"We’re a young, fit, strong team. And we have got a reasonably good mix of experience there.
"Clearly, the one thing that everyone says is, well, we’ve only got one current All Black and the Blues have got 13 and the Chiefs have got 11 and this and that.
"But we’ve always been a great breeding ground for bringing guys through to become All Blacks. And I believe there’s probably at least a handful there that could well be All Blacks, if not this year, next year.
"We’re under no illusion that it’s going to be another tough year. But we’re always excited."
Kean expects the Australian teams to be stronger across the board as they have been bolstered by redundant Rebels players.
It would also be interesting to see what effect star All Black Ardie Savea had on his new club, Moana Pasifika, he said.
"We’ve always wanted Super Rugby to be more competitive, and I think we found last year, with the Crusaders not being so dominant, there was a lot more interest in it."
There could be an ill wind blowing, however.
New Zealand Rugby is widely expected to have less money to throw around if it signs a reduced television broadcast deal when the current arrangement expires this year.
That might spell worse news for the grassroots — especially the NPC — but it seems unlikely there will not be some sort of effect on the Super Rugby clubs.
Kean is keeping a close eye on the developments but believes the new-look Super Rugby board, with chairman Kevin Malloy and chief executive Jack Mesley leading the way, will be equipped to deal with anything.
"We’re trying to support New Zealand Rugby as much as we can because we believe Super Rugby, for one, can stretch way beyond Australasia.
"We want it to be the most exciting competition in the world. That’s part of our vision. So we believe perhaps there’s more to selling TV rights than just Australasia."
The Highlanders have moved to secure their own future by selling a 20% ownership stake to billionaire businessman Charles Gibbon.
He had initiated the conversation with the club and was keen to give back to the area where he was raised and educated, Kean said.
"He’s done his due diligence, as you’d imagine for a businessman like him.
"I think he’ll bring robust business knowledge and industry knowledge and a new diversity of thought.
"It’s a real positive for the Highlanders. If you look at the whole shareholder group, they all bring a strong presence and a strong passion for the Highlanders. There are some pretty robust business people there and also some well-rounded rugby knowledge."
Kean is excited to have a look at the Highlanders’ revamped headquarters, including expanded locker room facilities, at the official opening on February 4.
"It’s an investment into high performance that we’ve done now, really, just to catch up with the other clubs.
"The main thing is the players and the coaches love it. It’s got to help with team spirit because a lot of our players would just perhaps go home for a shower afterwards.
"And now we’ve got an area, a lot more showers, people can have a coffee together and mix and mingle.
"We’ve always had strong team spirit, but this will just add to it."