NRL 2023: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga set to re-sign as he closes in on Australia record
Mal Meninga has declared he wants to soldier on as Kangaroos coach, in a move which could see the NRL Immortal create history for Australia.
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Mal Meninga has declared he wants to soldier on with the Kangaroos and ink a new deal in a move that will see the NRL Immortal become one of the most-capped coaches in Australia’s 115-year history.
Meninga is off-contract ahead of Saturday night’s Test against New Zealand in Melbourne and he will officially become a free agent when his Australia contract expires at the end of November.
The 63-year-old initially baulked at another term until there was more clarity around the international program, which suffered so poorly during the Covid crisis that Australia didn’t play for three years.
But the International Rugby League’s commitment to a seven-year schedule, including an Ashes tour, World Cup tournament and Kangaroo tour by 2030, has convinced Meninga to seek re-appointment.
Meninga has the backing of ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys to coach on and the 47-Test legend will sign an extension as he chases more silverware, including this year’s Pacific Championships trophy.
“I believe this position is by invite only, but obviously I love what I do and I want to be part of it for a while longer,” Meninga said ahead of Saturday night’s trans-Tasman showdown at AAMI Park.
“I am off-contract at the end of November this year. That’s a question for the ARL Commission really (whether he signs a new deal), ultimately it’s their decision.
“But I really enjoy the role.
“I feel like it’s important for the game to recognise the prestige of the Australian jumper, that our best players are held in high esteem, and they understand the privilege of putting on that green and gold jersey on.
“I know the guys take great pride in playing for Australia. I’m really pleased they are leaving a legacy on this national team and it’s a great privilege to coach the best players in the game.”
Meninga will enter Australia’s top five longest-serving coaches on Saturday night when he surpasses Chris Anderson (24) with his 25th Test in charge.
While the legendary Bob Fulton (40 Tests) is unlikely to ever be beaten, Meninga will usurp Frank Stanton (26), Clive Churchill (29) and Tim Sheens (31) if he leads Australia to the 2026 World Cup.
Meninga was appointed in 2016 after leading the Queensland team to nine Origin series wins in 10 years and indicated his next Kangaroos contract could be his last before retirement.
“I think the next Kangaroo tour is in 2027 or 2028, so that’s a fair while away. I’m not sure if I’ll still be in charge for that,” Meninga said.
“I’m not an old man just yet, I’m exactly 10 years younger than Wayne Bennett.
“It will certainly be great to be on deck for the next World Cup and it would be great to go overseas again and play in a three-Test series in England, much like Tonga are doing at the moment.
“I don’t predict I will be around in 2027, but it’s nice to know there is a long-term international program in place and the players can set some goals on the international front.
“It’s great for the international game to have more Tests. It’s not only about helping our Pacific neighbours, we have to look at promoting and propagating the game in the northern hemisphere as well.
“We have that obligation and I’ll support it in my role as Australian coach.”
Australia lock Pat Carrigan lauded Meninga’s influence on the national team, who have won 22 of 24 Tests on his watch.
“I have really enjoyed being coached by Mal,” Carrigan said.
“The guys respect him so much.
“He is pretty similar to Kev (Walters, Broncos coach), actually.
“I play my best footy under guys like Mal and ‘Kevvie’, they just allow you to relax and be yourself and play your game.
“They also have a presence about him and you respect what they achieved as players.
“They expect you to do your job, Mal is getting the best out of this Australian team and it would be great to see him in the role for a while.”
MAL TIPS BRONCOS TO BREAK THEIR DROUGHT IN 2024
Mal Meninga says Payne Haas will not defect to Samoa as the Australian coach declared Brisbane’s contingent of Kangaroos will lead the Broncos to premiership redemption next season.
Four Broncos – Haas, Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan – have been chosen in Australia’s 21-man squad for Saturday night’s Test against New Zealand at AAMI Park.
While Haas and Cobbo have been rested for the trans-Tasman showdown in Melbourne, Brisbane’s Fab Four are expected to all be on deck for the Pacific Championships final against the Kiwis on Saturday week in Hamilton.
The Broncos were left heartbroken by the worst collapse in grand-final history three weeks ago, blowing a 24-8 lead to lose the decider as the Panthers snatched an epic 26-24 victory at Homebush.
But Meninga, a three-time premiership winner as a player, says Brisbane’s representation in the national team will be a springboard for the Broncos to break their 18-year title drought next season.
“I think Brisbane will be mentally stronger for what happened, absolutely,” said NRL Immortal Meninga.
“Having guys like Patty Carrigan, Selwyn, Kotoni and Payne Haas in our Australian team … the (Brisbane) have the nucleus of a premiership team there.
“You can’t buy that grand-final experience they had. You have to go through it and live it and I’m hoping that their time in this Australian team will help them learn some more and get them ready for the bigger games.
“Penrith are one of the greatest sides I have ever seen, they are never beaten.
“The Broncos learnt some harsh lessons, they made a lot of errors in that first half and maybe fatigue got them at the back end. But the Panthers have such a belief in their system and each other that the game is never dead with them.
“But the Broncos are an exciting developing footy team, they have some fantastic young players, some of whom are in our Australian team.
“I believe they won’t be scarred by the grand-final loss too much at all.”
Haas was outstanding for Australia in their opening Pacific Championships defeat of Samoa and Meninga has outlined his mission to keep the superstar Broncos prop in the green-and-gold jumper.
Haas last week revealed he is open to one day representing his Samoan heritage, but Meninga is determined for the NSW Origin enforcer not to walk away from the Kangaroos.
“I am hoping he will be a Kangaroo for the rest of his career,” Meninga said of Haas.
“That’s the reason why I have selected Payne.
“It’s great to have Payne available for us. The Australian team is stronger for his presence.
“If you want a front-rower, Payne is the perfect model really, he can play big minutes and it’s all quality minutes.
“It’s inevitable we will lose more guys to the Pacific Nations, but it’s important we keep a talent like Payne in the green-and-gold jumper.”
Broncos and Australia lock Pat Carrigan, who will start from the bench on Saturday night at AAMI Park, says the Test series will make Brisbane’s Kangaroos stars more dangerous next season.
“I think this Test experience will help us,” Carrigan said.
“It’s given our guys like Selwyn and Kotoni another taste of playing big games.
“Being around the best players in the game will help us take some knowledge back to the Broncos with preparation and performing on the biggest stages.
“The big-game experience we are getting from these Tests will hold us in good stead at the Broncos next year.”
ROOS ROOKIE READY TO STEP OUT OF HAAS’ SHADOW
—Travis Meyn & Peter Badel
Kangaroos debutant Tom Flegler insists he is a changed man and ready to step out of the shadow of Broncos superstars Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan to chase NRL premiership success at Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.
Flegler will make his Test debut for Australia in Saturday night’s Pacific Championships clash with New Zealand in Melbourne.
The maiden green-and-gold jersey as Kangaroo No. 850 will cap a memorable 2023 season for Flegler, who returned to the State of Origin arena with Queensland and featured in his first NRL grand final.
The heartbreaking decider loss to Penrith was Flegler’s 96th and final game as a Bronco before he joins cross-town rivals the Dolphins on a mega four-year deal.
Flegler, 24, has played somewhat third fiddle to dynamic duo Haas and Carrigan at the Broncos, but he will head to Redcliffe as the Dolphins’ No. 1 prop next season.
And it’s responsibility he is relishing – even if it means he will have to confront his former sparring partners in Battle of Brisbane showdowns.
“It is always someone I wanted to be,” Flegler said when asked if he was looking forward to stepping out of Haas and Carrigan’s shadow.
“I don’t think anyone wants to be stuck behind other people.
“It was a hard decision (to leave). There’s a core group of boys there that have been there since under-20s and are very good mates.
“To leave was hard, but you’ve got to grow up and make decisions and get out of your comfort zone. I’ve made that decision and hopefully it can go well for me.
“It’s a friendly rivalry. We’re all mates off the field. On the field you’ve got to go out there and do what you’ve got to do.
“It will be hard to leave the Broncos. I was there a long time, but time goes on and I’m onto a new challenge with the Dolphins. I’m really excited about what I can do there under Wayne Bennett, who is a great coach.
“I’m only young. It’s my first year in the NRL where I’ve made a little bit of an impact on the team.
“Hopefully I can keep improving on that for years to come.”
Flegler came of age in 2023 and a driving factor in that was Broncos coach Kevin Walters.
After years of being a hothead, giving away penalties, sitting in the sin bin and copping suspensions, Flegler cleaned up his discipline.
It resulted in Flegler earning an Origin recall, continuing his unbeaten record from three appearances with wins in the first two matches before he missed Queensland’s Game Three loss through injury.
Now he will make his Test debut starting in the front row and said Walters deserved plenty of credit.
“It’s been a dream come true and a massive year,” Flegler said.
“We started playing well for Broncos and the way the season’s turned out, I don’t really know how to put it into words. I’m really happy with what’s happened.
“This year Kevvie said to me ‘you need to be a blue-haired Fleg, not red-haired’.
“I had to be a lot calmer. I’ve played nearly 100 games now. It took me a few seasons to mature as a front rower in the game.
“I’m not as aggressive anymore and I spent more time on the field this year, which is good. I need to continue doing that.
“It’s no good for the team if you’re on the sideline. It takes a few games to realise that and all the good props in the game, their maturity kicks in at a certain age and I feel like I’m heading in that direction.
“On the field you find yourself in situations and you’ve just got to take a step back, take a breath and think about what’s right for the team.
“I matured a lot more. Playing alongside Patty and Payne has helped me massively. They were (Dally M) lock and front rower of the year and I take lots out of their game.”
Given the Broncos made it to the last game of the season, and Flegler is in camp with the Kangaroos, he is not required to report for Dolphins pre-season training until the New Year.
But he is looking forward to reuniting with Bennett in a Dolphins squad that is set to challenge for next year’s top eight.
“I had him for a little bit (at the Broncos) in 2018 (but) I’ve never been coached by him,” Flegler said.
“But someone like him, they’ve got such an aura, you always hear ‘what’s he like?’. I’m really excited to get out there and see how he does it all.
“I don’t think it will sink in until I actually go to training and realise I’m not in the same environment or with the same people I’ve been with for the last six years. I’m sure it will when I go to Redcliffe and start training.
“I’m trying to keep nice and calm at the moment. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of nerves on Saturday night.”
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