Wayne Bennett ‘pleased’ to reunite with Mal Meninga on the Queensland Origin coaching staff
Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga will join forces in a bid to stop the Blues from winning three straight Origin series.
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Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga have been hailed Queensland’s “coaching dream team”, but Bennett says he needs all the help he can get to beat the NSW Blues in this year’s Origin series.
Bennett has welcomed his former foe Meninga’s return to the Origin stage to help him form a formidable coaching staff for the Maroons.
The pair have coached 18 series for Queensland, including 52 games for 31 wins, while Meninga led the state to a record eight straight series wins.
There was talk they fell out when Meninga beat Bennett to the Kangaroos job in 2015, but it won’t stop them from joining forces for Queensland in a bid to stop the Blues winning three series in a row.
“I’m really pleased about that, (Mal) coming back,” Bennett said.
“At the end of the day I had to say yes to it. I’m not sure who claims the idea, but I’m pleased he is there.
“We’ve got a very long relationship, and we’ve had a lot of success together as a player and coach.
“He did a great job with Queensland, and I need all the help that I can get.”
Bennett and Meninga may be highly regarded and respected, but the supercoach was quick to dismiss any notion that the injury-hit Maroons were ready to beat the Blues.
“All that stuff is for you guys and other people to get into,” he said.
“I’m not thinking that way – I know the challenge in front of us and how hard it is going to be.
“But Neil Henry is also there as well, so I’ve tried to get the best coaches around me, and that will only benefit the players.”
Originally published as Wayne Bennett ‘pleased’ to reunite with Mal Meninga on the Queensland Origin coaching staff