Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequencyBears or PNG? Meninga open to all offers
SEN • May 15th, 2025 5:07 pm
Having put his hand up to be the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears earlier this week, rugby league Immortal Mal Meninga is equally open to the idea of leading the PNG franchise.
Meninga is currently head coach of the Australian Kangaroos and was previously coach of the Queensland Maroons between 2006-2015.
To this day his Maroons side is widely considered one of the greatest teams ever assembled which was typified with eight consecutive series victories over NSW.
Meninga has coached at club level before and was at the helm of the Canberra Raiders between the 1997 and 2001 seasons.
Eager to get back to leading a club, Meninga is open to whichever franchise Peter V’landys thinks he would be best suited to but insists nothing has been formalised.
“I have got a profile and that’s an asset for me,” he said on SENQ’s Throwdown. “At the end of the day I’m driven by being successful. I’m driven by the people playing for me being successful.
“At this stage, there’s been no formal opportunity yet. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do whatever I need to do to build my case to be the inaugural leader of the Perth Bears or whatever team they choose to put me in.
“I’d be happy to look at the PNG situation. No reason I wouldn’t be, I have a lot of experience in that area too. I understand the market up there too and how passionate they are.
“I firmly believe with a 10-year window they could be highly successful. They live and thrive and think rugby league 24 hours a day up there.”
The Bears are set to join the NRL in 2027 and with more than 180 current players off contract leading into that season, Meninga would have a plethora of talent to choose from.
“It’s got to be my decision,” he said of the recruitment process. “I have to work with people I can trust and that have the right skillset.
“I’m authentic enough to realise I have weaknesses. You find people to help you with that.
“It’s building a team that works together collectively and works together with the same vision. Believe in people, teach people and get them to be the best they can possibly be.
“I’m keen on getting back into clubland. I love to be a head coach and having control and hopefully spreading my wisdom.”
The current plan to have a franchise in PNG is for the 2028 season.
