Latest news with #Meninga
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Walters and Fittler return on cards as Meninga set to be 'removed' as Kangaroos coach
Kevin Walters, Cameron Smith and Brad Fittler are reportedly the front-runners to become the next Kangaroos coach if the Australian Rugby League commission insists Mal Meninga steps down to take the Perth Bears job. Meninga is believed to have won the race to become the Bears' inaugural coach, and will be unveiled in coming weeks. But it will likely mean he'll have to step down as coach of Australia with immediate effect, because NRL officials are keen for him to start work on building the Bears' roster straight away. Leading journalist Michael Chammas reported this week that Meninga will be 'removed' as Kangaroos coach and won't be able to lead the Aussie team in the Ashes series against England later this year. It would be a hammer blow for Meninga considering the hype around the revamped Ashes series, which he featured in as a player. "The NRL does not want Meninga to coach Australia at the end-of-season Ashes series in England, instead wanting him to focus on building the Bears' roster for their 2027 debut," Chammas wrote. The Bears are allowed to start negotiating with and signing players from November 1 this year. If Meninga is still Kangaroos coach, he'll be in England on that date watching Australia play the second Test. The third and final Test of the series will take place a week later, sparking concerns over whether Meninga will be able to give both roles his full attention. Chammas reported that "three names currently in the mix" to become the new coach are Walters, Smith and Fittler. Walters and Fittler were previously State of Origin combatants, going head-to-head as coach of Queensland and NSW respectively. Walters, who was sacked by the Broncos last year, was interviewed about the Perth Bears job earlier this month. Fittler was NSW coach for six years, winning three series and losing three before stepping down in 2024. He returned to coaching with the Prime Minister's XIII team late last year for their game against PNG. 'I wouldn't consider it unless I was formally asked,' Fittler told the Sydney Morning Herald about coaching the Kangaroos. 'I don't know if Mal has the job or that he can't do both.' As for Smith, the Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons legend has no head-coaching experience. However he previously served as an assistant to Billy Slater with the Queensland team. Meninga's pending appointment as the Bears' coach means he's beaten fellow candidates Walters, Sam Burgess and Brad Arthur for the job. Arthur was believed to be the initial front-runner, and NRL officials considered using Meninga and Burgess in a tandem role. But Burgess reportedly withdrew from the running, paving the way for Meninga to get the job solo. There's suggestions Meninga will need a top-notch assistant coach with plenty of experience with NRL teams considering he last coached week-in-week out at club level in 2001. RELATED: Blow for Billy Slater with Queensland player banned from Origin Did NSW get away with illegal play on match-sealing try in Game 1? Discussing the situation on Thursday, the 64-year-old said there hadn't been any decisions made on whether he'd have to relinquish the Kangaroos job immediately. 'It's speculation,' he told the . 'I haven't had any conversations about this (quitting Australia), and to be honest I don't want to make any comments. It will be addressed if and only if the decision (to coach Perth) becomes a reality. The reality for me is that I'm the current Aussie coach.'
The Age
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
NRL to remove Meninga from Ashes series with Fittler, Smith and Walters in the frame
The talk out of Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night was that Mal Meninga's announcement as the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears was imminent, pending an agreement on the contract value. Attention will quickly turn to what that would mean for the Australian team and most of the 34 players who took to the field for game one of the series in Brisbane. This column has been told that the NRL does not want Meninga to coach Australia at the end-of-season Ashes series in England, instead wanting him to focus on building the Bears' roster for their 2027 debut. The Bears can't sign a player until November 1 - that's the same date as the second Test against England at Everton Stadium, a new 53,000-seat ground in Liverpool. The third and final Test of the series will be played a week later in Leeds, meaning Meninga would be preoccupied during a busy period for the NRL's newest franchise. Instead, the NRL will move to appoint a new Australia coach with an eye on the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The three names currently in the mix are former NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, ex-Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith and former Broncos coach Kevin Walters. 'I wouldn't consider it unless I was formally asked,' Fittler said. 'I don't know if Mal has the job or that he can't do both.'
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NRL to remove Meninga from Ashes series with Fittler, Smith and Walters in the frame
The talk out of Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night was that Mal Meninga's announcement as the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears was imminent, pending an agreement on the contract value. Attention will quickly turn to what that would mean for the Australian team and most of the 34 players who took to the field for game one of the series in Brisbane. This column has been told that the NRL does not want Meninga to coach Australia at the end-of-season Ashes series in England, instead wanting him to focus on building the Bears' roster for their 2027 debut. The Bears can't sign a player until November 1 - that's the same date as the second Test against England at Everton Stadium, a new 53,000-seat ground in Liverpool. The third and final Test of the series will be played a week later in Leeds, meaning Meninga would be preoccupied during a busy period for the NRL's newest franchise. Instead, the NRL will move to appoint a new Australia coach with an eye on the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The three names currently in the mix are former NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, ex-Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith and former Broncos coach Kevin Walters. 'I wouldn't consider it unless I was formally asked,' Fittler said. 'I don't know if Mal has the job or that he can't do both.'
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Meninga's Ashes message to Ponga
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says Kalyn Ponga's decision to make himself unavailable for the national side in 2024 won't rule him out of contention for the Ashes squad later this year. Meninga has one eye on the massive series that returns after a lengthy hiatus, but his main focus for now is on State of Origin, which kicks off in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Ponga is back in the No.1 jersey where he's hoping to fire after a quiet couple of months for the Knights, with the former Dally M Medal winner in the mix to earn a Kangaroos call-up if he can dominate the series. The 27-year-old caused a stir last year when he turned down a potential Kangaroos debut so he could focus on the Knights, only to change his mind following public backlash. Meninga didn't pick Ponga in the squad for the Pacific Championships, with Dylan Edwards doing a wonderful job as Australia beat Tonga in the final. And while last year's situation was far from ideal, Meninga won't let it cloud his judgment if Ponga excels in Origin and puts his hand up to represent Australia amid speculation he could one day play for New Zealand. 'One of the reasons he didn't want to play last year for the Kangaroos was because of fatigue,' the Immortal said. 'We had those conversations last year, so that's not going to impinge on him playing for Australia. 'If he comes out and kills it for Queensland … I'm going to pick the best players (at the end of the year) to represent their country. 'Because of conversations we had in the past, that's not going to reflect in the future.' Mal Meninga has teamed up with DrinkWise to deliver an important message. DrinkWise Credit: Supplied Meninga is big on respect for the jersey, and he's also promoting respect for everyone and encouraging footy fans to drink in moderation during the Origin period. The rugby league legend has teamed up with DrinkWise to encourage fans to celebrate the action responsibly at the ground, the pub or at home with friends and family. 'It's a great initiative to use Origin and rugby league as a vehicle to talk about social change around moderation or drinking responsibly,' he said. 'Respect for each other when you go to a game or you're at home is really important. For me, respect is part of our behaviours and standards for the Kangaroos, so that marries up really well for me. 'Players in the modern age do drink responsibly, or some don't drink at all because they understand the responsibility to their community, club and mates. 'Drinking in moderation is a smart move for their careers, and as I said before, respect is pretty prevalent in our game.' Meninga has seen players like Cameron Munster give up alcohol and the positive impact that's had on and off the field, with the former Maroons coach backing the Queensland star's halves partner to fire on Wednesday night. Daly Cherry-Evans hasn't been at his brilliant best as the world waits for him to sign with the Roosters, but Meninga is tipping him to put that behind him when he pulls on the maroon jersey. Daly Cherry-Evans has been in all the headlines this year after telling Manly he's leaving at the end of the season. Lachie Millard Credit: News Corp Australia 'He's our leader, and that's what leaders do – they've got to lead from the front,' he said. ''Chez' won't be worried by what's going on because he's got so much experience. All this chatter off the field isn't going to worry him or the team. 'They might have had a quick chat about it at the start of camp, but I reckon they've moved on past all that. 'Whatever Daly does for next year isn't going to have an impact on his or Queensland's performance.' Meninga didn't pick Cherry-Evans in the Australian side last year, with Mitch Moses and Tom Dearden combining brilliantly. The way Cherry-Evans handled his demotion impressed Meninga, who has been pleased to see the veteran playmaker work so enthusiastically with Dearden even though he took his place in the team. 'He cares about the players around him,' Meninga said. 'Even if there's another half who he's in competition with, he's always there to help out. He's got that team mindset, which you need.'
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
‘I'm going to pick the best players': Mal Meninga's Ashes message to Kalyn Ponga after last year's Kangaroos snub
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says Kalyn Ponga's decision to make himself unavailable for the national side in 2024 won't rule him out of contention for the Ashes squad later this year. Meninga has one eye on the massive series that returns after a lengthy hiatus, but his main focus for now is on State of Origin, which kicks off in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Ponga is back in the No.1 jersey where he's hoping to fire after a quiet couple of months for the Knights, with the former Dally M Medal winner in the mix to earn a Kangaroos call-up if he can dominate the series. The 27-year-old caused a stir last year when he turned down a potential Kangaroos debut so he could focus on the Knights, only to change his mind following public backlash. Meninga didn't pick Ponga in the squad for the Pacific Championships, with Dylan Edwards doing a wonderful job as Australia beat Tonga in the final. And while last year's situation was far from ideal, Meninga won't let it cloud his judgment if Ponga excels in Origin and puts his hand up to represent Australia amid speculation he could one day play for New Zealand. 'One of the reasons he didn't want to play last year for the Kangaroos was because of fatigue,' the Immortal said. 'We had those conversations last year, so that's not going to impinge on him playing for Australia. 'If he comes out and kills it for Queensland … I'm going to pick the best players (at the end of the year) to represent their country. 'Because of conversations we had in the past, that's not going to reflect in the future.' Meninga is big on respect for the jersey, and he's also promoting respect for everyone and encouraging footy fans to drink in moderation during the Origin period. The rugby league legend has teamed up with DrinkWise to encourage fans to celebrate the action responsibly at the ground, the pub or at home with friends and family. 'It's a great initiative to use Origin and rugby league as a vehicle to talk about social change around moderation or drinking responsibly,' he said. 'Respect for each other when you go to a game or you're at home is really important. For me, respect is part of our behaviours and standards for the Kangaroos, so that marries up really well for me. 'Players in the modern age do drink responsibly, or some don't drink at all because they understand the responsibility to their community, club and mates. 'Drinking in moderation is a smart move for their careers, and as I said before, respect is pretty prevalent in our game.' Meninga has seen players like Cameron Munster give up alcohol and the positive impact that's had on and off the field, with the former Maroons coach backing the Queensland star's halves partner to fire on Wednesday night. Daly Cherry-Evans hasn't been at his brilliant best as the world waits for him to sign with the Roosters, but Meninga is tipping him to put that behind him when he pulls on the maroon jersey. 'He's our leader, and that's what leaders do – they've got to lead from the front,' he said. ''Chez' won't be worried by what's going on because he's got so much experience. All this chatter off the field isn't going to worry him or the team. 'They might have had a quick chat about it at the start of camp, but I reckon they've moved on past all that. 'Whatever Daly does for next year isn't going to have an impact on his or Queensland's performance.' Meninga didn't pick Cherry-Evans in the Australian side last year, with Mitch Moses and Tom Dearden combining brilliantly. The way Cherry-Evans handled his demotion impressed Meninga, who has been pleased to see the veteran playmaker work so enthusiastically with Dearden even though he took his place in the team. 'He cares about the players around him,' Meninga said. 'Even if there's another half who he's in competition with, he's always there to help out. He's got that team mindset, which you need.'
