NRL 2024: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga declares New Zealand test the biggest game in 30 years

Mal Meninga has declared the Kangaroos clash against bitter rivals New Zealand is the Australia’s biggest Test match in 30 years, as he faces the real possibility of relegation.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has described Sunday’s Tasman derby against bitter rivals New Zealand as “Australia’s biggest Test match in 30 years.”

And Meninga admitted it was a real possibility that a loss could banish his proud and famous Kangaroos to rugby league’s second tier.

In a raw and honest interview, Meninga conceded a loss in the top division Pacific Championships game could push Australia into the ultimate humiliation – a promotion-relegation game against a second-level nation.

Defeat to New Zealand and a strong Tongan win over the Kiwis in a Test at Auckland on Saturday week could consign an embarrassed Australia to a game against the winner of the Pacific Bowl.

That would likely pit Australia against either Fiji or Papua New Guinea on November 10 at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium to remain in the Pacific Championships, the tournament’s elite grouping.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has described Sunday’s Tasman derby against bitter rivals New Zealand as “Australia’s biggest Test match in 30 years.” Picture: Getty Images

Given what is at stake, Meninga claimed Sunday’s Test was the biggest and most important since he led Australia to a 23-4 win over Great Britain in deciding third Test on the 1994 Kangaroo tour.

“In my mind, I think this is the biggest Test since that ’94 tour,” Meninga said.

“For the national side, yes, for 30 years, absolutely.

“We had to win that third Test in ’94 to retain the Ashes. I was captain of the side in 1994 and now I’m the coach in 2024.

“We could have lost the Ashes that year.

“The pressure is on the Kangaroos to perform. If we don’t get our mojo going, there’s a real possibility we could miss out on the final.”

Asked whether he feared being pushed into a promotion-relegation game, Meninga said: “I haven’t presented that to the players but it’s been in the back of my mind, obviously.

The Kangaroos find themselves in a precarious position, with relegation a possibility after the Kiwis’ record 30-0 win over Australia in the 2023 Pacific Championship final. Picture: Getty Images

“We are more about playing well so we haven’t addressed that but if we don’t win and Tonga beat the Kiwis, given the promotion-relegation format this year, who knows?

“We could be playing for third spot to avoid relegation. It’s up to us, it’s in our hands. If it doesn’t happen, we are the only ones to blame.

“We don’t like to think about it but it’s a real possibility if we don’t get our act together.

“From a coaching perspective, there is a fair bit of pressure on me to make sure the team performs really well and I’m sure with our preparation we’ll be right to go.

“That’s the beauty of the contest I guess.”

And the pressure will be suffocating for the Kangaroos given New Zealand’s 30-0 demolition in last year’s final.

“There is that added pressure given what happened last year. We talked about it briefly at the beginning of the camp but we haven’t addressed it again this week,” he said.

“New Zealand will have something to prove as well, that last year wasn’t a fluke, a one-off. We had to endure that 30 point loss and it’s been painful for the last 12 months.

“They no doubt believe they are the number one team in the world. It will be a great contest. We will give it our best shot.”

Australia defeated Tonga 18-0 last Friday night in Brisbane to kick-start the tournament before the Kangaroos travelled to Christchurch for Sunday’s Test at a sold-out Apollo Projects Stadium.

PNG defeated Fiji in a Pacific Bowl Test last weekend with the Bati to play Cook Islands this Saturday night in Suva.

The final round Pacific Bowl match between PNG and Cook Islands will be played in Port Moresby on November 3.

Meninga has retained the same side which beat Tonga for the New Zealand game.

“Every time you put on the green and gold it is a challenge and you know who you are playing for and the opposition know too,” said Australian hooker Harry Grant.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga declares New Zealand test the biggest game in 30 years