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West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
'A great privilege': Meninga locked in as Perth coach
The Perth Bears hope the presence of Mal Meninga will give the NRL's 18th team immediate cut-through in an AFL-dominated city after unveiling the Immortal as the head coach of the start-up franchise. At a press conference in Sydney on Friday, Meninga was locked in as the Bears' inaugural coach on a three-year deal. It is his first foray into club coaching in more than 25 years. Meninga has renounced his role as coach of the Australian Test team ahead of an end-of-season Ashes tour. The 64-year-old will now set about building a competitive roster for the Bears' first NRL season in 2027. "This is one of the most exciting challenges of my career," Meninga said. "To have the opportunity to take our great game back to Western Australia to start a new team and to bring with it a much-loved rugby league community and heritage brand in the Bears. "It's a great privilege and responsibility I've been given to be one of the leaders in the formation of the club. "I'm looking forward getting to stuck into the work that needs to be done to deliver a team that represents WA and is competitive from day one." Meninga has built a terrific resume working as a representative coach with the Kangaroos, Queensland and Papua New Guinea, but hasn't worked at club level since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'A great privilege': Meninga locked in as Perth coach
The Perth Bears hope the presence of Mal Meninga will give the NRL's 18th team immediate cut-through in an AFL-dominated city after unveiling the Immortal as the head coach of the start-up franchise. At a press conference in Sydney on Friday, Meninga was locked in as the Bears' inaugural coach on a three-year deal. It is his first foray into club coaching in more than 25 years. Meninga has renounced his role as coach of the Australian Test team ahead of an end-of-season Ashes tour. The 64-year-old will now set about building a competitive roster for the Bears' first NRL season in 2027. "This is one of the most exciting challenges of my career," Meninga said. "To have the opportunity to take our great game back to Western Australia to start a new team and to bring with it a much-loved rugby league community and heritage brand in the Bears. "It's a great privilege and responsibility I've been given to be one of the leaders in the formation of the club. "I'm looking forward getting to stuck into the work that needs to be done to deliver a team that represents WA and is competitive from day one." Meninga has built a terrific resume working as a representative coach with the Kangaroos, Queensland and Papua New Guinea, but hasn't worked at club level since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001.
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Australian NRL legend Mal Meninga confirmed as head coach of Perth Bears
The Perth Bears hope the presence of Mal Meninga will give the NRL's 18th team immediate cut-through in an AFL-dominated city after unveiling the Immortal as the head coach of the start-up franchise. At a press conference in Sydney on Friday, Meninga was locked in as the Bears' inaugural coach on a three-year deal. It is his first foray into club coaching in more than 25 years. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach beat South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. Meninga has renounced his role as coach of the Australian Test team ahead of an end-of-season Ashes tour. The 64-year-old will now set about building a competitive roster for the Bears' first NRL season in 2027. 'This is one of the most exciting challenges of my career,' Meninga said. 'To have the opportunity to take our great game back to Western Australia to start a new team and to bring with it a much-loved rugby league community and heritage brand in the Bears. 'It's a great privilege and responsibility I've been given to be one of the leaders in the formation of the club. 'I'm looking forward getting to stuck into the work that needs to be done to deliver a team that represents WA and is competitive from day one.' Meninga has built a terrific resume working as a representative coach with the Kangaroos, Queensland and Papua New Guinea, but hasn't worked at club level since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001. Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said Meninga's leadership and experience would give the organisation a strong platform to build its culture and identity. 'We're extremely honoured that Mal has signed on to become the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears,' De Ceglie said. 'Mal is not just an Immortal of the NRL but an immortal of the Australian sporting landscape. 'He is an icon whose leadership qualities such as courage, honesty and hard work are rightly renowned across the country and make him the perfect coach to build a brand new team from the ground up. 'I'm sure NRL fans in Perth and in North Sydney will join me in welcoming him with open arms.' The Bears' return to the NRL comes 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed .... and a tough task looms for Meninga. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Meninga gets key endorsement as Perth Bears coach
Queensland Rugby League boss and former North Sydney star Ben Ikin has endorsed Australia mentor Mal Meninga as a prime candidate for the Perth Bears coaching job. AAP has been told the ARL Commission is investigating the concept of a Meninga and Sam Burgess duo as the coaching team for the new expansion club to enter the NRL in 2027. AAP revealed this month Burgess would put his hand up for the Bears gig, which the current Warrington coach and 2014 South Sydney title winner later confirmed. Meninga and Burgess are regarded as a co-coaching pair that have both gravitas and charisma to steer the Perth side in an AFL-dominated state. Three-time title winning Canberra star Meninga won nine out of 10 State of Origin series in charge as coach of the Maroons before steering the Kangaroos to two World Cup wins. Ikin, one of the game's most influential voices, said Meninga's presence in Perth would be a godsend. "Mal is a great leader," Ikin said. "The success he's had with the Maroons is a testament to that. He knows how to create a great environment and knows how to sell the game and stand for something publicly. "The Bears are going to need that in Perth." Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was initially the front-runner after he was interviewed by the former consortium that was ultimately rejected by the NRL. However, the end result has not daunted the former star's spirits. "I would say the game is in a pretty fortunate position if you look at the short list," Ikin said. "Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess . Each of those guys are top quality individuals who offer something different. Most pleasing for me is not only that Mal has put up his hand, but he is on the short list with classy coaches." Former Brisbane coach Walters told AAP on Sunday he had also been sounded out about the job. "I have always said that coaching is my passion. I love coaching," Walters told AAP. "It was just a chat. I'm serious about it. I haven't been offered the job. It was just informal discussions about whether I would be interested. "I am (a career coach). It is in the blood. It has always been in the blood." Queensland Rugby League boss and former North Sydney star Ben Ikin has endorsed Australia mentor Mal Meninga as a prime candidate for the Perth Bears coaching job. AAP has been told the ARL Commission is investigating the concept of a Meninga and Sam Burgess duo as the coaching team for the new expansion club to enter the NRL in 2027. AAP revealed this month Burgess would put his hand up for the Bears gig, which the current Warrington coach and 2014 South Sydney title winner later confirmed. Meninga and Burgess are regarded as a co-coaching pair that have both gravitas and charisma to steer the Perth side in an AFL-dominated state. Three-time title winning Canberra star Meninga won nine out of 10 State of Origin series in charge as coach of the Maroons before steering the Kangaroos to two World Cup wins. Ikin, one of the game's most influential voices, said Meninga's presence in Perth would be a godsend. "Mal is a great leader," Ikin said. "The success he's had with the Maroons is a testament to that. He knows how to create a great environment and knows how to sell the game and stand for something publicly. "The Bears are going to need that in Perth." Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was initially the front-runner after he was interviewed by the former consortium that was ultimately rejected by the NRL. However, the end result has not daunted the former star's spirits. "I would say the game is in a pretty fortunate position if you look at the short list," Ikin said. "Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess . Each of those guys are top quality individuals who offer something different. Most pleasing for me is not only that Mal has put up his hand, but he is on the short list with classy coaches." Former Brisbane coach Walters told AAP on Sunday he had also been sounded out about the job. "I have always said that coaching is my passion. I love coaching," Walters told AAP. "It was just a chat. I'm serious about it. I haven't been offered the job. It was just informal discussions about whether I would be interested. "I am (a career coach). It is in the blood. It has always been in the blood." Queensland Rugby League boss and former North Sydney star Ben Ikin has endorsed Australia mentor Mal Meninga as a prime candidate for the Perth Bears coaching job. AAP has been told the ARL Commission is investigating the concept of a Meninga and Sam Burgess duo as the coaching team for the new expansion club to enter the NRL in 2027. AAP revealed this month Burgess would put his hand up for the Bears gig, which the current Warrington coach and 2014 South Sydney title winner later confirmed. Meninga and Burgess are regarded as a co-coaching pair that have both gravitas and charisma to steer the Perth side in an AFL-dominated state. Three-time title winning Canberra star Meninga won nine out of 10 State of Origin series in charge as coach of the Maroons before steering the Kangaroos to two World Cup wins. Ikin, one of the game's most influential voices, said Meninga's presence in Perth would be a godsend. "Mal is a great leader," Ikin said. "The success he's had with the Maroons is a testament to that. He knows how to create a great environment and knows how to sell the game and stand for something publicly. "The Bears are going to need that in Perth." Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was initially the front-runner after he was interviewed by the former consortium that was ultimately rejected by the NRL. However, the end result has not daunted the former star's spirits. "I would say the game is in a pretty fortunate position if you look at the short list," Ikin said. "Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess . Each of those guys are top quality individuals who offer something different. Most pleasing for me is not only that Mal has put up his hand, but he is on the short list with classy coaches." Former Brisbane coach Walters told AAP on Sunday he had also been sounded out about the job. "I have always said that coaching is my passion. I love coaching," Walters told AAP. "It was just a chat. I'm serious about it. I haven't been offered the job. It was just informal discussions about whether I would be interested. "I am (a career coach). It is in the blood. It has always been in the blood."
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Meninga gets key endorsement as Perth Bears coach
Queensland Rugby League boss and former North Sydney star Ben Ikin has endorsed Australia mentor Mal Meninga as a prime candidate for the Perth Bears coaching job. AAP has been told the ARL Commission is investigating the concept of a Meninga and Sam Burgess duo as the coaching team for the new expansion club to enter the NRL in 2027. AAP revealed this month Burgess would put his hand up for the Bears gig, which the current Warrington coach and 2014 South Sydney title winner later confirmed. Meninga and Burgess are regarded as a co-coaching pair that have both gravitas and charisma to steer the Perth side in an AFL-dominated state. Three-time title winning Canberra star Meninga won nine out of 10 State of Origin series in charge as coach of the Maroons before steering the Kangaroos to two World Cup wins. Ikin, one of the game's most influential voices, said Meninga's presence in Perth would be a godsend. "Mal is a great leader," Ikin said. "The success he's had with the Maroons is a testament to that. He knows how to create a great environment and knows how to sell the game and stand for something publicly. "The Bears are going to need that in Perth." Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was initially the front-runner after he was interview e d by the former consortium that was ultimately rejected by the NRL. However, the end result has not daunted the former star's spirits. "I would say the game is in a pretty fortunate position if you look at the short list," Ikin said. "Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess . Each of those guys are top quality individuals who offer something different. Most pleasing for me is not only that Mal has put up his hand, but he is on the short list with classy coaches." Former Brisbane coach Walters told AAP on Sunday he had also been sounded out about the job. "I have always said that coaching is my passion. I love coaching," Walters told AAP. "It was just a chat. I'm serious about it. I haven't been offered the job. It was just informal discussions about whether I would be interested. "I am (a career coach). It is in the blood. It has always been in the blood."
