NRL icon wants to coach Perth Bears amid calls for Sam Burgess succession plan

A rugby league icon is reportedly very interested in coaching the Perth Bears amid calls for the NRL to appoint a “high profile” figure.

Mal Meninga has thrown his hat into the ring to be the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears in a surprise twist in the formation of the NRL’s newest team.

Last week the NRL officially confirmed the Bears would join the competition in 2027 and now one of the first major decisions for the Bears is to appoint a coach.

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Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is the frontrunner to land the Bears job, given his record of developing players during a decade in charge of the Eels.

Arthur was sacked as Parramatta coach in 2024, and is currently coaching the Leed Rhinos in the Super League.

Warrington coach Sam Burgess is also a contender for the Bears coaching job, but now Code Sports is reporting Meninga has expressed interest in coaching the Bears.

“Mal Meninga has thrown his hat into the ring to coach the Perth Bears,” journalist Brent Read told NRL 360 on Monday night.

“I spoke to Mal this arvo and he’s very interested in the job. He said, ‘Look, this is a serious consideration for me if I’m in mix for that job’.”

Meninga won three premierships as a player with the Canberra Raiders before going on to coach Queensland, famously leading the Maroons to a record eight consecutive State of Origin series wins.

The 64-year-old is the current coach of the Australian Kangaroos, leading the national side to victory at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.

“I think he would inevitably give that away,” Read added.

“If it meant he got the Perth Bears head coaching job, I think Mal would reluctantly stand down from the Australian job. That was the impression I got.”

Mal Meninga is interested in coaching the Perth Bears. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The NRL will make the final call on appointing the coach of the Perth Bears, and judging by the WA media’s fiery response to an NRL team coming to Perth, the league may need a recognisable name to achieve cut-through over in the west.

“I think he would be amazing over there because of his profile,” Read said.

“That club needs to hit the ground running. They need some profile in their coach and there’s not many bigger profiles in the game than Mal Meninga.

“He would have to have great assistants around him, but he’s always had that with Australia. I think he would be amazing to Perth.”

The NRL 360 panel likened Meninga becoming the Bears coach to Leigh Matthews coaching the AFL’s Brisbane Lions in the 1990s and Kevin Sheedy taking the reigns at the GWS Giants.

Gorden Tallis said: “That’s what you need, you need a face to sell the game.”

Braith Anasta noted Meninga was “behind the eight ball” given Arthur has long been touted as the favourite to be coach of the Bears.

“It’s going to be a quick decision,” Read explained.

“It’s not going to take a lot of time. Brad Arthur is obviously in the box seat at the moment because he’s been the bloke for a while now. He’s got his nose well and truly in front.

“They’re going to go through a process.”

Brad Arthus is the frontrunner for the Bears job. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess is another contender.

Phil Rothfield added: “I said when the news came out about Arthur, have we done the due diligence?

“Have we rung (Craig) Bellamy? Have we rung (Wayne) Bennett? Have we rung (Ivan) Cleary? Have we tested the market to see who else is there?
“

I think, like the Dolphins, we need a high profile figurehead to launch a project in Perth — a mad AFL city — and I think Mal, provided he had the right team around him, would probably be the preferred choice.”

The NRL will establish a seven-person board and appoint a CEO and coach over the next month to head up the new franchise.

“It’s quite urgent that they do appoint a coach if they’re coming in 2027,” Rothfield said.

Mal Meninga has the high profile to cut through in Perth. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“Burgess is interesting, Arthur is a good coach. I just think Mal has that presence. If you surround him with the right coaching staff.”

Burgess has long been seen as a future NRL head coach and it’s been floated the Englishman could serve as an assistant to Meninga before taking over as head coach of the Bears in two to three years.

“I’d like to see Mal work with Sam and Sam would eventually come through as (part of) a succession plan,” Read said.

Rothfield added: “This is exactly what the Dolphins did with (coach Kristian) Woolf). They said ‘You come and coach under Wayne, it’s your job in two years.”