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Tinkering with the opportunity’: Mal Meninga opens up on Perth Bears job
Mark Molyneux2 hours ago•11:58 am AEST
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys outlined how the pieces would be put in place for the Perth Bears at a rapid rate, following the new franchise’s unveiling last week.
The Western Australian-based outfit will enter the competition in 2027, leaving little room for manoeuvre.
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One of the first bits of business that needs to be sorted is appointing a front office and a head coach. And V’landys revealed the latter would ideally be done in the space of two or three weeks from the 18th franchise’s official confirmation day.
Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess were posed as the leading contenders early on, but other options have since emerged. Mal Meninga is the latest name to be linked to the position and the 13th Immortal has expressed his desire to take the job.
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Mal Meninga opens up on Perth Bears head coaching job
"I’d like to be back in clubland and be the main person," Meninga told SEN."I’d like to be the person and head coach who builds up the foundation of a new entity.
"If they do make the decision and (they feel) I’m the right man to do it under the right conditions, I’m going to get straight into it."
The 64-year-old hasn’t coached in the NRL in over two decades, but believes he could be the perfect man to front the expansion out on the west coast, given his vast experience.
Meninga was last seen in the NRL in 2001 when he was in charge of his beloved Canberra Raiders for the final time as he bowed out with a 53 per cent overall winning record.
Although he has since built up his coaching resume with a string of successful tenures in the representative arena.
Most famously, he guided Queensland during their era of dominance in State of Origin when they claimed a remarkable eight series wins in a row.
He then positioned himself at the head of the international game in his near-decade-long reign as the coach of Australia.
But Meninga admitted the opportunity to front the WA-based club and try to turn them into an NRL powerhouse could see him walk away from the Kangaroos.
There is no doubt his legendary stature will be an attractive proposition for V'landys and Co. to contemplate as they seek to persuade a host of players to uproot their families and head west in the expansion.
"I’m tinkering with the opportunity to go back into clubland and finish my life cycle in rugby league," Meninga declared.
"I’m really happy [being Australia coach]. We have the Ashes and World Cup over in England in the next two years. But it would be a great opportunity to coach Perth. You are starting up a possible giant in the game.
"There’s a lot you need to do about your junior pathways and development programs, but there’s a real opportunity over there to promote the game of rugby league."
records as head coach
