Mal Meninga hits out at controversial World Cup jersey number system

The Kangaroos coach has laid the blame over a controversial decision that’s infuriated both players and fans.

Australian Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga announces the new Kangaroo team.

Rugby League Immortal Mal Meninga has taken aim at senior Kangaroos officials for voting to scrap the traditional player number system for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in England.

The Australia coach suggested senior figures in the Kangaroos set-up signed off on the controversial move in 2019 without his input, leaving him with “no idea” that players would now be wearing jersey numbers based on when they made their debut for the national team.

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“We signed off on it (changing the number system) about two years ago, so I have no real comeback on it… We had no idea when it was signed off on,” Meninga told SEN.

“We have 13 debutants on tour, so the jersey that they get to play in for the very first Test is their tour number, Isaiah Yeo is number 24 mainly because of where he sits on the alphabet, he is the premier 13 of our competition.

“It takes away from the excitement of your debutants in particular, having their very first Test match jersey and it’s a number that doesn’t resonate with anyone, because it’s not the position he plays in.

“The supporters will be trying to understand who’s in the 24 jersey that’s playing in the middle.”

Coach Mal Meninga of Australia watches on during the International match between Australian Men's PMs XIII and PNG Men's PMs XIII at Suncorp Stadium.

All competing nations in this year’s World Cup were reportedly sent a proposal for the revamped jersey number system in the wake of the 2017 World Cup, before voting on the change in 2019.

While it allows players to carry the same number throughout the whole tournament, it spells bad news for casual fans and some commentators who rely on jersey numbers to identify players and positions.

Meninga also believes the controversial move has frustrated the players, who hold the number representing their favoured position close to their hearts.

For example the Kangaroos number seven jersey is coveted by both Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary, however that number will now be written across the back of five-eighth Cameron Munster for the duration of the tournament.

Cherry-Evans will instead wear the number two jersey, while Cleary will take the number 14.

“I’m just a little bit disappointed for the players from a positional point of view, because the first jersey they put on won’t be the one they play in,” Meninga said.

Kangaroos coach, Mal Meninga looks on during an Australia Kangaroos media opportunity ahead of the Rugby League World Cup at E-Lab Training.

“A lot of teams might pick a 1-17, but we’re not in a position to do that because we’ve got 24 great players and I’m not too sure who will make up the final 17, when we hopefully go into the Grand Final of a World Cup.”

The criticism from the Kangaroos coach comes in the wake of a scathing assessment from rugby league great Matthew Johns, who declared he hates the change.

“I cannot believe it, each game you should earn your jersey one through 17, the couple of sixes (test jerseys) I got, they’re the special ones because they’re the ones you earned,” Johns told SEN,

“During the game, I think looking at Latrell (Mitchell) in the number eight jersey, for the organisers I think they’ve got it wrong, and Australia I think we’ve got it wrong, I honestly hate it.

“The traditional jerseys and numbers are part of the history of the sport, and you shouldn’t tamper with it.

“For the people who are the casual observer … you’d be saying, ‘sorry who is that?’

Nathan Cleary will wear the number 14 in the upcoming World Cup. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“Particularly these days with players who wander in the field, you have forwards who play a bit, they’ll (casual fans) be just saying who are these guys, it doesn’t make sense to me at all.”

The new jersey system was invented by Kangaroos assistant coach Michael Hagan.

Australia gets its Rugby League World Cup campaign underway at KCOM Stadium on Sunday, October 16, facing Fiji at 5.30am AEDT.

Australian team for World Cup opener

1. James Tedesco (c)

9. Josh Addo-Carr

8. Latrell Mitchell

4. Valentine Holmes

23. Murray Taulagi*

7. Cameron Munster

2. Daly Cherry-Evans

18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui*

3. Ben Hunt

5. Jake Trbojevic

17. Angus Crichton*

22. Jeremiah Nanai*

11. Cameron Murray (vc)

Interchange

20. Harry Grant*

16. Reuben Cotter*

13. Pat Carrigan*

10. Jack Wighton

*Denotes Kangaroos debutant

This is Australia’s team for first ⁦@RLWC2021⁩ game

The numbering is a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/Ii50k0EMnj

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) October 11, 2022