A kind request has been made for Mal Meninga to hold off on returning to NRL for the time being.
After a decade away since his challenging tenure at Canberra, Meninga believes he is prepared to make a comeback in the NRL. This conviction is reinforced by his success in leading the Maroons to an impressive series of five consecutive Origin victories.
However, the QRL maintains its hope of not losing Meninga, who has established all he needs to demonstrate in the Origin domain, following his record-setting era at the Maroons’ helm.
“I would love to see Mal continue,” commented QRL chief executive Ross Livermore.
“I haven’t received any indication from Mal that this year will be his last. He’s relishing the success and camaraderie among the Queensland players.
“We’ve got some exceptional young talent emerging, and while he has Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva performing well, he might think, ‘I’m not too old for this role.'” Meninga is currently sought after as a premier mentor, with the Brisbane bid consortium looking to appoint the 50-year-old as its inaugural coach, should they gain entry to the NRL in 2013.
The former Raiders star is evidently contemplating his Origin prospects.
This week, he identified Lockyer and Civoniceva as possible successors for his coaching legacy in Origin.
Livermore stated that the QRL wouldn’t have any objections if Meninga, who took control of the Maroons in 2006 during a turbulent period for Queensland rugby league, chose to pursue a new challenge.
“Mal has served as an excellent ambassador for Queensland rugby league and the game through the triumphs of State of Origin. If we clinch six in a row this year, I wouldn’t fault him for wanting to step away next year and try something new,” Livermore remarked.
“I believe he will make his decision in his own time, regardless of the outcome, about when he steps back. They often say it’s best to retire at the peak, but I don’t think Mal will consider it that way.”
Meninga entered into a three-year agreement with the QRL following the 2008 Origin series. However, Livermore noted that any contract duration would be negotiated with the coach’s perspective in mind.
“It would hinge on Mal’s preference. There’s no point in signing a three-year deal if he only desires one more year,” he explained.
“After triumphing in five or six series, he has a strong negotiating position . . .
“Mal will want to evaluate his options after this series. We can’t predict what offers he might receive from other NRL teams; he may prefer not to be confined to Origin if an enticing NRL offer comes up.”
Buford Balony says: Coaching an NRL team is quite different from leading a star-studded Origin squad that anyone could coach to achieve five series victories.
