NRL 2022: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga gets NRL approval to mentor Queensland’s emerging coaches

Four months after he was banned from involvement with the Maroons, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga is back with Queensland Rugby League - but he is adamant his impartiality won’t be compromised.

Australia coach Mal Meninga has dismissed claims of a conflict of interest after confirming he will return to help Queensland develop the next generation of Origin mentors.

Meninga told News Corp he is ready to help the Queensland Rugby League - four months after ARLC chairman Peter V’landys banned him from direct involvement with the Maroons as an assistant to new coach Billy Slater.

The QRL has received clearance from V’landys and his fellow commissioners for Meninga to form part of a coaches advisory board alongside Wayne Bennett and Gene Miles that will help develop the state’s emerging mentors.

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Mal Meninga is returning to help Queensland find the next generation of coaches.

Given Queensland only has about half the eligible State of Origin players as NSW, the Maroons are determined to ensure their top talent is receiving the best possible coaching as they come through the ranks.

Meninga is the most successful coach in Origin history, having guided Queensland to nine series wins, including the famous eight straight, during the Maroons’ decade of dominance (2006-15).

While he is the current Kangaroos coach ahead of the year-ending World Cup, Meninga said his involvement with Queensland would not impact his national allegiance and hit back at accusations of a conflict of interest.

“I’m not going to have a role (with the Maroons) whatsoever,” he said.

“I’m part of the coaching setup, mentor setup, for up-and-coming coaches particularly in our junior systems. No formal role with the Origin side at all.

“I’m the Australian coach, so I’ll be talking to Freddy (Blues coach Brad Fittler) and I’ll be talking to Billy and looking at both camps to talk to everyone. It’s part of my role to have a foot in both camps.

Meninga oversaw an unprecedented run of victories for the Maroons.

“But I’m a Queenslander. I want Queensland to win.”

Meninga was given clearance to assist Bennett in Queensland’s remarkable 2020 Origin series win given he had no Test commitments that year due to Covid.

But V’landys ruled out a potential return to the Queensland Origin setup in a World Cup year, leaving the QRL to explore other ways for Meninga to be involved.

“We originally wanted to have Mal in the coaching setup or as an assistant coach, but in our discussions with the ARLC that was too much of a conflict,” QRL chief Rohan Sawyer said.

“We recognised that being the Australian coach in a World Cup year, so an official coaching or staff member position is not there.

“What we’re trying to build out for the future across all of our Maroons programs is an experts’ and leadership panel.

Meninga has to pick a Kangaroos World Cup team this year. (AAP Image/Chris Pavlich)

“We’re looking at having Wayne, Mal and Gene Miles as part of that. Their job will to be an advisory panel to not only Billy and Tahnee (Norris, women’s coach) but also the underage coaches.

“They will advise on how we build culture and pathways programs. We’re keen to tap into Mal’s mind and what he’s done over that period.

“We’re working on what the advisory panel looks like. It will probably meet two or three times a year, meet with the coaches and senior leadership. They will come up with strategies as to how we further develop coaches and pathways in Queensland.

“The one thing the NRL said we couldn’t do was have Mal as a staff member and we said we wouldn’t do that. Bruce (Hatcher, QRL chairman) has spoken to Peter V’landys about building an advisory panel in Queensland and having those experts on it.

“The ARLC wants to see coaches and pathways grow in Queensland, so getting access to those minds to help us build it is a tick for everyone.”

After suffering a 2-1 series loss last year, the QRL has beefed up its coaching team with Slater recruiting Origin legend Cameron Smith alongside Johnathan Thurston as his assistants.