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From yesterday's CT:
Mal moves north Opportunities drive Green Machine great's return to his home state
By Lucy Gibson
Sunday, 25 July 2004
IT'S NOT that he's unhappy in Canberra. Nor, he says, has it anything to do with his affinity to Queensland rugby league. Apparently, it's not even the weather.
So just what has prompted former Canberra Raiders star Mal Meninga to up sticks after 18 years of living in the capital and head back to Queensland at the end of the year? "It's just that there are some great business opportunities for me up there," the Australian rugby league great said yesterday. "I want to establish my after-school sports program in areas of Queensland and pursue a number of other business opportunities.
"I have a lot of contacts in Queensland, a lot of friends and family, and it just makes sense to go back there."
Meninga holds a special place in the hearts of Canberrans - his mop of black hair and bushy eyebrows are as recognisable off the rugby field as on it.
The 44-year-old, who played more than 400 first-class games for the state, club and country in a career which spanned 16 years, having once coached the Raiders now holds an administration role with the Green Machine.
He is also director of PASS, a privately funded program designed to get kids involved in after-school sport, which he hopes will be as successful in central Queensland and the northern suburbs of Brisbane as it has been in Canberra.
Add to that the enormous esteem to which he is held in his spiritual home and there is little wonder Meninga and his wife, Debbie, a New Zealander, were reduced to tears at having made the decision to move to sunnier climes.
"Debbie has a lot of close friends in Canberra and she is very comfortable here," Meninga said.
"It was very hard for me, too. Canberra has been very kind to me."
Born in Bundaberg, Queensland on July 8, 1960, Meninga first represented his home state in 1979, but it was a year later, in the first ever game played under the Origin format, that he truly made an impression, kicking seven goals from seven attempts to steer the Maroons to a 20-10 win over NSW.
Meninga's Test debut came in 1982 against New Zealand in the second Test in Sydney and he went on to play in every Test except one between 1983 and 1985.
Meninga moved to Canberra to join the Raiders in 1986, his performances that year were good enough to earn him his second Kangaroo jersey, but he was out for much of the 1987-88 season with a series of broken arms. He returned in 1989 and was immediately brought back into the Queensland side before touring New Zealand.
On landing back in Australia he was handed the Raiders' captaincy and led the team to premiership success in 1989, doubling up the following year with a league win against Penrith.
That same year he took over as captain of the Australian side and held the reins for 23 of the next 24 Test matches.
Having steered the Raiders to a third premiership title in 1994, he played his last league game for his country on December4 that year in France, topping off his career with the final try in Australia's record Test 74-0 win.
Meninga says he will take with him fond memories of Canberra, in particular the success he enjoyed with the Raiders.
He also admits he will miss the climate and the capital's clean living.
"I enjoy the climate here - and the fact there are four seasons," Meninga said.
"There's also no peak-hour traffic and the facilities are great.
"People always think Canberra is about public servants and politicians, but there's greater depth than that.
"I will really miss the place."
The Meningas will leave Canberra at the end of the year, once son, Joshua, 16, has finished school.
Their oldest daughter Tamika, 18, will stay on in Canberra to take up a hairdressing apprenticeship at Seven Hair Studio in Braddon, giving Meninga the perfect excuse to come back for a visit.
As for a farewell party Meninga insists it will be a very private affair. Private, because even our tough man of rugby league expects to shed a few tears.
Mal moves north Opportunities drive Green Machine great's return to his home state
By Lucy Gibson
Sunday, 25 July 2004
IT'S NOT that he's unhappy in Canberra. Nor, he says, has it anything to do with his affinity to Queensland rugby league. Apparently, it's not even the weather.
So just what has prompted former Canberra Raiders star Mal Meninga to up sticks after 18 years of living in the capital and head back to Queensland at the end of the year? "It's just that there are some great business opportunities for me up there," the Australian rugby league great said yesterday. "I want to establish my after-school sports program in areas of Queensland and pursue a number of other business opportunities.
"I have a lot of contacts in Queensland, a lot of friends and family, and it just makes sense to go back there."
Meninga holds a special place in the hearts of Canberrans - his mop of black hair and bushy eyebrows are as recognisable off the rugby field as on it.
The 44-year-old, who played more than 400 first-class games for the state, club and country in a career which spanned 16 years, having once coached the Raiders now holds an administration role with the Green Machine.
He is also director of PASS, a privately funded program designed to get kids involved in after-school sport, which he hopes will be as successful in central Queensland and the northern suburbs of Brisbane as it has been in Canberra.
Add to that the enormous esteem to which he is held in his spiritual home and there is little wonder Meninga and his wife, Debbie, a New Zealander, were reduced to tears at having made the decision to move to sunnier climes.
"Debbie has a lot of close friends in Canberra and she is very comfortable here," Meninga said.
"It was very hard for me, too. Canberra has been very kind to me."
Born in Bundaberg, Queensland on July 8, 1960, Meninga first represented his home state in 1979, but it was a year later, in the first ever game played under the Origin format, that he truly made an impression, kicking seven goals from seven attempts to steer the Maroons to a 20-10 win over NSW.
Meninga's Test debut came in 1982 against New Zealand in the second Test in Sydney and he went on to play in every Test except one between 1983 and 1985.
Meninga moved to Canberra to join the Raiders in 1986, his performances that year were good enough to earn him his second Kangaroo jersey, but he was out for much of the 1987-88 season with a series of broken arms. He returned in 1989 and was immediately brought back into the Queensland side before touring New Zealand.
On landing back in Australia he was handed the Raiders' captaincy and led the team to premiership success in 1989, doubling up the following year with a league win against Penrith.
That same year he took over as captain of the Australian side and held the reins for 23 of the next 24 Test matches.
Having steered the Raiders to a third premiership title in 1994, he played his last league game for his country on December4 that year in France, topping off his career with the final try in Australia's record Test 74-0 win.
Meninga says he will take with him fond memories of Canberra, in particular the success he enjoyed with the Raiders.
He also admits he will miss the climate and the capital's clean living.
"I enjoy the climate here - and the fact there are four seasons," Meninga said.
"There's also no peak-hour traffic and the facilities are great.
"People always think Canberra is about public servants and politicians, but there's greater depth than that.
"I will really miss the place."
The Meningas will leave Canberra at the end of the year, once son, Joshua, 16, has finished school.
Their oldest daughter Tamika, 18, will stay on in Canberra to take up a hairdressing apprenticeship at Seven Hair Studio in Braddon, giving Meninga the perfect excuse to come back for a visit.
As for a farewell party Meninga insists it will be a very private affair. Private, because even our tough man of rugby league expects to shed a few tears.
