Mal Meninga’s stunning praise for mates and rival coaches, Craig Fitzgibbon and Cameron Ciraldo
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes rival coaches Craig Fitzgibbon and Cameron Ciraldo have what it takes to become the next great NRL mentors, as the Sharks prepare to take on the Bulldogs.
David Riccio
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has lauded rival coaches and great mates Craig Fitzgibbon and Cameron Ciraldo by claiming they will become two of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen.
The enormous praise has emerged ahead of a much-anticipated clash between Fitzgibbon’s Cronulla and Ciraldo’s Bulldogs at Sharks Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs are attempting to win their opening four matches for the first time since 1993, when they finished the regular season as minor premiers.
Cronulla are aiming to win three consecutive matches since losing to Penrith in Las Vegas and remain unbeaten at home against Canterbury since 2011.
Craig Fitzgibbon and Cameron Ciraldo.
Still in their infancy as coaches with Fitzgibbon, 47, in his fourth season in the NRL and Ciraldo, 40, his third year in charge of the Dogs, the duo have wasted no time overhauling the culture and fortunes of their respective clubs with a trajectory of consistent finals appearances.
Meninga said he’s seen enough in the duo to determine the duo will be two of the game’s most influential mentors. “The two coaches (Fitzgibbon and Ciraldo) are excellent in how they communicate,” Meninga said on SEN radio.
”That’s another good battle (on Saturday night). Two young coaches in our competition, who are making a name for themselves and who could virtually be some of the best coaches the game has ever had, when history looks back at them.
NRL: Cronulla will take on an unbeaten but under strength Bulldogs at home at an expected sold out Shark Park.
“They’re long-term coaches and career coaches, whether they’ll be both at the same club, I hope they are.
“Because it’s great that you’ve got Ricky (Stuart) and Wayne (Bennett) when he was at the Broncos, and Ivan (Cleary) has gone back to Penrith, Craig (Bellamy) who is down in Melbourne, they’re there because they’ve been great coaches.
“And historically, they are some of the greatest coaches the game has ever had and I kind of hope that happens with those two young fellas (Fitzgibbon and Ciraldo).
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes Fitzgibbon and Ciraldo have what it takes to become the next great NRL coaches. Picture: Getty Images
“They’ve certainly got their teams firing.”
Often styles make fights in rugby league.
And in the two rival coaches on Saturday night, with their shared love for coaching defence, who often trade coaching philosophies and their mutual respect, which includes Fitzgibbon recently attending Ciraldo’s 40th, footy fans could be in for a special Saturday night of footy.
“Last year and in the opening rounds you can see what team they want to become and so do we,” Fitzgibbon said of Ciraldo’s team.
“We’ve had really competitive games against them in the last two years and we’re expecting nothing less.
“They’re a quality side. They do those hard parts of the game that we talk about very well.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge and expecting a very difficult game.”
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