Mal meninga biography books

Australian rugby league football educator and former player

Malcolm Norman MeningaAM (; born 8 July 1960) is an Australian professional football league coach and a earlier professional rugby league footballer. Meninga is widely regarded as companionship of the finest players suggestion the game's history.

He enjoyed a long career in both Australia and England, playing in the main as a goal-kicking centre. Astern retiring, Meninga has enjoyed attainment as a coach, and equitable currently the head coach very last Australian national team.^[7]

Meninga broke frequent rugby league records during fulfil playing career.

He retired shrink the most appearances in rectitude history of the Australian country-wide team, and became the top-point scorer ever in State sun-up Origin football. He has by reason of been honoured as a 1 of the Order of Continent, has been inducted into prestige Australian Rugby League Hall be alarmed about Fame and has also back number named in both Queensland's charge Australia's teams of the 100.

Meninga is the only trouper in history to be elite for four Kangaroo Tours. Misstep toured with the Kangaroos have as a feature 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994, appearing in every test peer against Great Britain and Author on all four tours. Crystal-clear is also the only trouper to captain two Kangaroo Excursions, in 1990 and 1994.

In addition he is one of cardinal players, along with Wally Explorer, Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny promote Gene Miles, who were branchs of the undefeated 1982 tube 1986 tours, known as 'the Invincibles' and 'the Unbeatables' individually. .

As a coach, take action began with the Canberra Raiders, before coaching Queensland to niner State of Origin titles in the middle of 2006 and 2015.

He became coach of Australia in 2016 and led the Kangaroos belong win the 2017 World Treat and the 2021 World Jug. Meninga was inducted as depiction 13th Immortal in 2018.

Early life

Meninga, whose father is last part South Sea Island heritage nearby mother is a white Australian,^[8] was born in Bundaberg, Queensland.^[9][10] His father, Norman Meninga, as well played rugby league.^[11] He has a brother, Geoffrey Meninga.^[12]

As minute on Who Do You Assemble You Are? in 2016, Meninga's great-grandfather Edward Meninga was pass up Tanna, Vanuatu.^[13][14] Meninga has frequently been misidentified as an Early Australian.^[15][16]

Meninga attended Maroochydore State Elevated School,^[17] graduating with a Callow Certificate in 1975.

He organized his Senior Certificate at honourableness Queensland Police Academy, citing dominion love for TV police dramas as a key reason nurse joining the force,^[11] and served as an officer in leadership Queensland Police Service until 1985. It was during his ahead in the police force think it over Meninga met Wayne Bennett, who was serving as a officer at the time and would become one of Meninga's washed out mentors.^[11] Mal was actually uncut senior constable and 2IC Wrapper instructor under Sergeant Wayne Aeronaut at the Queensland Police College during the early 80s.

Playing career

Meninga captained Australia for 23 Test matches between 1990 skull 1994,^[18] and captained the Queensland State of Origin team lend a hand three years from 1992 rap over the knuckles 1994. He remains the solitary player to captain two Kangaroo tours, in 1990 and 1994.

I'd watch in awe pass for Mal pulverised the opposing defending line with his bone-crunching runs. From the safety of angry spot six or seven metres away from the action, Side-splitting felt grateful that I didn't have to tackle him owing to his giant thighs were malignant weapons.

Bill Harrigan^[19]

Brisbane

Meninga made his chief grade début in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership at nobleness age of 18 with Grey Suburbs.

He was selected curry favor play for Brisbane in rendering 1979 Amco Cup, kicking a-ok goal in their 5–22 concluding loss to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Meninga also made his first publication at centre for Queensland compromise 1979,^[20] and the following yr helped his state to add the first interstate match access State of Origin selection post against New South Wales close by Lang Park, kicking seven goals from seven attempts.

Meninga was one of the last cast to use the toe-poke motion style rather than the addon accurate around-the-corner style that was starting to take hold. Guarantee Origin game was on 8 July 1980, Meninga's 20th fare well. Later that year he high-sounding for Souths in the BRL grand final, scoring a seek and kicking 3 goals tempt the Magpies went down test Northern Suburbs 17–15.

Meninga through the 1980 season as magnanimity BRL's top points scorer, live 245 points . A twelvemonth later however Meninga reached picture 1981 Brisbane Rugby League spell 1 grand final with Souths, who defeated the Redcliffe Dolphins 13–9.

In 1982, he was christian name man-of-the-match in Game 1 female 1982 State of Origin focus against New South Wales improve on Lang Park, and was succeeding selected to make his express début for Australia in precise test against New Zealand trim the Sydney Cricket Ground, grow the 540th player selected guarantor Australia.

Meninga had an dismay game though, dislocating his press in the 28th minute associate a crunching blindside tackle put on the back burner Kiwi winger Dane O'Hara, long forgotten at the same time attempting to break a tackle evade Kiwi fullback Gary Kemble. No problem soon recovered and played wealthy the centres for Souths foundation their 17–3 loss to position Wynnum Manly Seagulls in probity BRL Grand Final at System failure Park.

Post season he toured Europe with the undefeated 1982 Kangaroos, playing in all scandalize tests on tour against Island New Guinea, Great Britain deed France. Meninga was the Kangaroos top point scorer on rope, scoring 166 from 10 tries (worth 3 points) and 68 goals, including a personal conduct of 19 points (1 traumatic, 8 goals) in the labour Ashes series test against Fantastic Britain at Boothferry Park bond Hull.

He then backed turn up with 15 points (1 try, 6 goals) in blue blood the gentry second test at Wigan's Main Park, before adding a newfound 14 points (7 goals) verge on his Ashes tally in decency third test at Headingley layer Leeds.^[21] The 1982 Kangaroos, honesty first touring team to shipment through Great Britain and Author undefeated, earned the Frank Suffragist coached team the nickname "The Invincibles".

Mal's size, strength, unacceptable at that stage of circlet career his speed (in representation early 1980s he was once upon a time reportedly timed at 11.9 in short over 100 metres ^{[citation needed]}) saw him wreak havoc mess about with the weaker English club hitch defences, as well as authority Lions test side.

According close by BBC commentators Ray French scold former Great Britain halfback Alex Murphy, the Lions players plainly could not handle the 'Man Mountain' Meninga. ^{[citation needed]}

Meninga enlarged his good form in 1983, even though Souths missed ethics BRL Grand Final. He impressed in Queensland's second straight Foundation series win over NSW, make your mind up also starring for Australia delicate the two test series break the rules New Zealand in mid-season.

In 1984, Meninga played a superior role in an Oceania team's 54–4 victory over an Anglo-French selection in an exhibition equivalent Paris, before returning to Brisbane after the match to extend playing for Souths.^[22] After afresh playing a leading role appearance Queensland in their third plausible Origin series win over Authority, Meninga missed the first Embellishment test against the touring Immense Britain side, but was be cast to the team for excellence second and third tests be required of the series which Australia improve won 3–0.

Meninga was justness BRL's top tryscorer and proof scorer in the 1984 stretch, with 18 tries and 154 points.

Meninga continued his circus form for Souths in 1985, playing in their 10–8 Large Final win over Wynnum-Manly. 1985 also saw NSW win decency Origin series for the have control over time, though Mal was hand-picked for the mid-season Kangaroo Rope of New Zealand.

Australia won the test series 2–1 clashing the Kiwis with Meninga oppress the centres for each try out, but on a tour prowl had seen the NSW vs Qld rivalry come into grand gesture in an Australian team, Newfound Zealand won the dead competition 3rd test at Carlaw Estate in Auckland 18–0.

St Helens

After his displays on the 1982 Kangaroo tour, Meninga was put over high demand with English truncheon sides.

For the 1984–85 Football Football League season he gestural to play for St. Helens, who had paid around £30,000 for his services to ground in the Australian off-season^[23] boss he helped the club have an effect on victory in the Premiership. Significant was bought by BBC judge and former Saints forward Stalemate French while he was shrub border Australia covering the 1984 Faultless Britain Lions tour.

St Helens' rivals Wigan were also sustenance him and had papers cook for him to sign. Sculpturer had accidentally left the Outbreak Helens contract in his bed room so asked Wigan chairperson Maurice Lindsay if he could borrow his; unbelievably, the in the general run astute Lindsay agreed and bimanual over the papers. French intersecting out any reference to Wigan and changed it to "St Helens" instead, stealing the skill from under their noses.

Accepted Meninga played at centre current scored 2-tries in St. Helens 28–16 victory over Wigan provide the 1984 Lancashire Cup Ending during the 1984–85 season contempt Central Park, Wigan on Virtue 28 October 1984. On 11 May 1985 Meninga added new silverware, scoring two memorable complete tries as St Helens licked Hull Kingston Rovers 36–16 embankment the Premiership Final.^[24] Meninga didn't manage to serve a beyond spell at Knowsley Road, plan a variety of reasons, scream least being a succession achieve injuries (three broken arms allowed in 1987 and 1988 respectively) that also punctuated his existence in Australia.^[25] Yet he remnant a legendary figure in cosmopolitan rugby league, and his stint at St Helens has back number described as the most substantial of any overseas import always Britain.^[26]

Canberra

In 1986, Meninga and coworker Gary Belcher left Southern Purlieus to play for the Canberra Raiders in the New Southeast Wales Rugby League.

Souths guru Wayne Bennett would join them at the club in 1987 as co-coach alongside Australian tribal coach Don Furner. Despite give surety a broken arm in neat as a pin sickening collision with the intention posts in the Raider's Filling 10 match with Manly-Warringah riches the Raiders then home priest Seiffert Oval and subsequently short 10 weeks (including Queensland's make it 1987 State of Origin mound and the one-off test hiding against New Zealand), Meninga correlative to play in Canberra's 18–8 loss to Manly in walk year's Grand Final at leadership SCG, the last ever Celebrated Final to be held comic story the ground.

On an unseasonably warm day, Meninga's lack care match fitness since his resurface told (he had only high-sounding 60 minutes of the Prefatory final win over Eastern Boundary the week before) and put your feet up was finally replaced by Raiders reserve back Kevin Walters in the middle through the second half. Blooper scored the Raiders first numbers in their maiden Grand Concluding appearance with a penalty object early in the second fifty per cent to reduce the deficit letter 6–2 after eventual Clive General Medal winner Cliff Lyons esoteric scored for the Sea Eagles before half time allowing them to take a 6–0 be in power into the break.

A above broken arm before the incline of the 1988 NSWRL spell 1 saw Meninga missing until Clique 15. After just 4 fun back for the Raiders, Meninga played for Australia in their record 70–8 win over Island New Guinea at Wagga Wagga in country NSW, scoring a handful of tries.^[27] Unfortunately for Meninga, aft one more game for Canberra he then broke his element for a third time discredit Australia's 22–10 over a Restore your form of the World team certified the Sydney Football Stadium, how in the world him out for the profit of the 1988 NSWRL stint.

Meninga's broken arms saw him play only 17 games make a choice the Raiders in 1987 cope with 1988. ^{[citation needed]} His base also saw him miss neat as a pin place in Australia's 25–12 spitting image over New Zealand in primacy World Cup final at Islands sky Park in Auckland at blue blood the gentry end of the 1988 term.

After being given the Raiders' captaincy, Meninga led Canberra figure out their first premiership in 1989 after overcoming the Balmain Tigers 19–14 in extra time border line the Grand Final, the Raiders becoming not only the leading non-Sydney team to win dignity premiership, but also the cardinal team to win after completion the minor round in Quaternary place.

In the post time Meninga travelled with the Raiders to England and captained distinction team in their 30–18 mislaying to a Martin Offiah effusive Widnes in the 1989 Universe Club Challenge at Old Trafford. Meninga successfully returned to engrave level representative football in 1989, playing for Queensland in their State of Origin series conceal of NSW (though he outspoken suffer an eye socket abuse in the second game expose Sydney which kept him muffle of the third), before being selected to the mid-season take shape of New Zealand.

After live in the centres for ethics first two test wins change somebody's mind the Kiwis, Meninga was struck to the second-row for high-mindedness third test in Auckland shrink great effect as he scored a try and kicked suggestion goal to add to fillet 5 goals in the principal test and 2 in loftiness second.

At the end realize the 1990 NSWRL season Meninga led the Raiders to on Grand final victory against authority Penrith Panthers.

He was as well the year's top try-scorer (crossing for five in the Focus 5 match against Eastern Outskirts at the Raiders new cloudless ground, Bruce Stadium^[28]) and top-point scorer, and was named pass for Rugby League Week's player rigidity the year. After gaining nobleness test captaincy that year advocate the absence of an skinned Wally Lewis (also because fall foul of a broken arm) for honourableness one-off test against France eliminate Parkes and the test aspect New Zealand in Wellington, Meninga was duly named captain mimic the 1990 Kangaroos.^[26] It was his third Kangaroo Tour care being a member of 1982's "Invincibles", as well as yield a member of the victorious 1986 Kangaroos who became crush as "The Unbeatables".

Meninga would score the opening try countless the Kangaroo Tour in picture first game against his decrepit club St Helens at Knowsley Road. After the Kangaroos' stun 19–12 loss in the be foremost Ashes test against Great Kingdom at Wembley Stadium, Australia won the next two tests convenient Old Trafford and Elland Course of action to wrap up the rooms.

In the second test spokesperson Old Trafford, Meninga scored freshen of the most famous ^{[citation needed]} tries in test anecdote. With only a couple take away minutes remaining and the lots locked at 10 all, consummate Raiders teammate Ricky Stuart raced through a gap in birth tired Lions defence and sprinted 70 metres upfield.

With Lions players converging, Meninga loomed detain support and after legally shouldering Lions centre Carl Gibson take out of the way, received leadership pass from Stuart and stilted down for a dramatic 14–10 win that silenced most catch the fancy of the 46,615 strong crowd. Regular then went on to best ever another try in the bag and deciding test as Continent won 14–0 and retained Depiction Ashes they had held on account of 1974.

As he also confidential scored a try at Wembley, Meninga joined legendary Australian winger Ken Irvine (1963), and little try scorer, Queensland and Canberra PropSam Backo (1988) as picture only Australian's to score wonderful try in each test dispense an Ashes series. Also beckon 1990, Meninga's deeds in substantial the successful Kangaroo tour axiom him named as Britain's BBC Overseas Sports Personality of rectitude Year, the first rugby association player to win it.

^{[citation needed]}

Meninga's good form continued gauzy 1991, helping Queensland to spitting image the Origin series (Wally Adventurer retained the Qld captaincy) previously leading Australia to a 2–1 series win over New Sjaelland in the mid-season tests. Textile the 44–12 third test seize at Lang Park, Meninga povertystricken Michael Cronin's Kangaroos point make record.

At the end attention to detail the 1991 season after rectitude Raiders had lost 19–12 total Penrith in the Grand In response, Meninga captained the Australians fail to appreciate their tour of Papua Different Guinea which included a 2–0 test series win over birth Kumuls.

After Canberra's salary splendour problems at the end allude to 1991 which saw them completion a number of fringe working party as well as some veterans (though most, including Meninga, harmonious to actually take a allotment cut in order to hang on to the side together), the Raiders missed the finals for blue blood the gentry first time since 1986 like that which they finished 12th in 1992.

Meninga's form continued though, captaining Queensland in the 1992 Make of Origin series (NSW won 2–1) as well as Australia's successful Ashes defence against illustriousness touring Great Britain Lions. Pacify was in great form fasten the first test at excellence Sydney Football Stadium, scoring 2 tries as Australia won 22–6.

The Lions produced a stun in the second test discern Melbourne with a big 33–10 win, but the Kangaroos, not together by Meninga's 12 points (1 try, 4 goals) won picture deciding test at Lang Parkland 16–10. By starting in magnanimity 3rd test at Lang Woodland, Meninga played his 37th find out, breaking the record of 36 held by Reg Gasnier on account of 1967.

Gasnier was on commit to congratulate Meninga on rule achievement. At the end divest yourself of the 1992 season, Meninga captained Australia to their 10–6 standin over Great Britain in distinction World Cup final in head start of a record international complex crowd of 73,631 at Wembley Stadium in London.

The Raiders came back strongly in 1993, with their international stars Meninga, Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley, Pol Clyde and Steve Walters, introduce well as try scoring FijianNoa Nadruku (22 tries for decency season) leading the way.

Canberra finished third after the obscure round, and were premiership favourites until their fateful Round 21 match with the hapless Parramatta Eels at Bruce Stadium. Halfback Ricky Stuart badly broke reprove dislocated his right ankle distort the second half and discredit a club record 68–0 increase by two, without their halfback and eminent play maker, the Raiders hew down apart.

They lost their first name minor round game to Canterbury-Bankstown 32–8, before meekly going portion in straight sets in position finals with losses to ultimate Grand Finalists St George pole premiers Brisbane. 1993 wasn't separation bad though. Although Queensland gone their second straight State precision Origin series under Menginga's guidance, he did lead Australia coalesce a Trans-Tasman Test series magnify over New Zealand in mid-season.

Meninga though was forced appoint miss the first test urge the Mount Smart Stadium develop Auckland as he had back number suspended for 2 weeks add to the use of an impel to Manly-Warringah's Welsh import nucleus John Devereux in the Raiders Round 10 match with class Sea Eagles at Brookvale Ovoid. After the Australians got interrupt with a lucky 14-All drag in the first test, Meninga returned to the team (which was captained by New Southward Wales captain Laurie Daley bring Auckland) for the second bite win at Palmerston North teach an extremely wet and physically powerful night, as well the bag test win at Lang Fall-back.

On Australia Day 1994, Meninga was made a Member carry the Order of Australia "for service to rugby league football". Later that year he upset his last game for nobleness Canberra Raiders in the 1994 Grand Final where he not public his team to victory meet Canterbury-Bankstown to their third premiership in six years. Fittingly, Easy scored the last try presumption the match after taking representative intercept and outpacing Bulldogs middle Jarrod McCracken to score oining the posts (amazingly, despite paper a noted goal kicker available his career, Meninga declined yearning take what would have anachronistic an easy shot at intention and left it to picture team's regular kicker David Furner).

During 1994, Meninga played realm final test on Australian contemptible when he led the Kangaroos to a record 58–0 warrant over France in a curiosity test at Sydney's Parramatta Coliseum in front of an quasi- packed house of 27,318. Let go scored a try and kicked 5 goals in his terminating test for Australia in Country. Unfortunately for Meninga, in realm last State of Origin mound for Queensland as both leading and as a player, Additional South Wales, led by Raiders teammate Laurie Daley, won loftiness series 2–1.

The State admonishment Origin series is the lone trophy Mal Meninga would mewl win as a team airman. Meninga captained the Raiders tell off the Grand final for well-ordered record fifth time in 1994.^[26] At the end of loftiness 1994 season, Meninga was elect for his record fourth Kangaroo Tour and his record in no time at all as captain when he went on the 1994 Kangaroo cable.

Meninga became the only artiste selected to four Kangaroo tourism and the only player resolve twice be named tour principal. Australia again lost the rule test against Great Britain soothe Wembley Stadium, but changes undemanding to the team by guardian Bob Fulton saw the Kangaroos bounce back with a requital in the second test tackle Old Trafford with a 38–8 win.

With the scores sheltered at 4–4 after two punishment goals each, Meninga intercepted precise Bobbie Goulding pass only 20 metres from his own assertive and raced 70 metres downfield, with flying Lions winger Comedian Offiah bearing down on him. Just as Offiah tackled him, Meninga gave a perfectly timed pass to winger Andrew Ettingshausen who scored the first understanding Australia's seven tries that existing.

After a poor first write to, the second saw a accepted return to form for Meninga. The Kangaroos then scored regular hard-fought 23–4 win in blue blood the gentry third test at Elland Over to once again retain Representation Ashes and keep alive their streak of not having absent a test series in England since the 1959–60 Kangaroo trip circuit.

On 4 December 1994, combination the Stade de la Méditerranée in Béziers, France, Mal Meninga captained Australia to a transcribe 74–0 victory over a notice weak French team, scoring representation final try of the diversion, and of his career. Nondescript a test career of 46 games for Australia, Mal Meninga scored a total of 278 points (21 tries, 99 goals).

Australia won 40 and nonpareil lost 6 of the tests Meninga played and did snivel lose a test series lasting his time in the rural and gold. He played farm animals the centres on 40 occasions for Australia, with one project on the wing, two lecture in the second-row, and three disseminate the bench. On his team a few Kangaroo Tours as a performer, Meninga holds the distinction infringe playing in every test long for Australia on tour, playing every six tests in both 1982 and 1986, all five infiltrate 1990, and all four lecture in 1994.

Former teammate and governor of the London Broncos, Metropolis Grienke was hopeful of transportation Meninga to his club cooperation a swansong season,^[26] but that did not eventuate.

Coaching career

Following his retirement Mal Meninga face to face supported the Super League thought during the Super League armed conflict of the mid-1990s.^[29] His prevalence and playing record as unadorned domestic and international captain were valuable in raising the side view of the rebel competition.

Confine 1995 Meninga's book Mal Meninga: My Life in Football was published. He was appointed tendency coach of his old mace, the Canberra Raiders in Australia's Super League season in 1997.

Canberra Raiders

Meninga was appointed guide of the Raiders in 1997, succeeding three-time winner Tim Sheens, but achieved only moderate come after.

In 2000, Meninga was awarded the Australian Sports Medal take his contribution to Australia's general standing in rugby league. Picture following year, he received rendering Centenary Medal "for service significance a role model and incentive as a rugby league jock of the highest standard". Back end Canberra failed to make influence finals of the 2001 Agency season, finishing fourth-last (11th comply with of 14 teams), Meninga was replaced by Matthew Elliott considerably Raiders coach.

In late 2002, Meninga expressed interest in class Queensland State of Origin crew coaching job.^[30]

During the 2003 Rugger Union World Cup, Wales' aid coach Scott Johnson got Meninga to assist with pre-match spadework by speaking to the working party and presenting them with their jerseys.^[31]

Meninga left Canberra and shared to Queensland in 2005, creation several successful businesses, including put in order fruit and vegetable wholesale fold in the Brisbane Markets, elitist several Strathfield Car Sound outlets.

^{[citation needed]}

In late 2005, misstep was announced as the additional Queensland State of Origin omnibus, to replace Michael Hagan.

Prime Minister's XIII

From 2005 to 2012, Meninga served as coach lift the Australian Prime Minister's Xi. During his tenure, Meninga ormed the PM's XIII in 8 matches, winning 7 and design 1.

He was succeeded whereas coach of the PM's 12 by New South Wales educator Laurie Daley.

Queensland

Meninga made grand successful début as the Maroons coach in the 2006 Status of Origin series, guiding Queensland to a 2–1 series completion, its first outright series hurt somebody's feelings since 2001 (this despite representation fact Queensland lost the chief match).

Also in 2006, subside coached the Prime Minister's 12 side to victory over primacy Papua New Guinea national football league team. Meninga attended nobility 2007 Challenge Cup Final, put in which his old club Be violent towards Helens was playing, at Wembley Stadium as a guest manager honour.^[32] On 13 October 2006, Meninga was reappointed as carriage of the Maroons for leadership 2007 State of Origin broadcast and 2008 State of Starting point series,^[33] both of which Queensland won, taking his record mess up the Maroons to three bombshells from three series.

When Meninga was given a new sphere after the 2008 series, lighten up was quoted as saying: "I want to win six [State of Origin series] in smart row".^[34] In the 2009 serial, Queensland won the first duo games giving them a tilt fourth consecutive series win business partner captain Darren Lockyer saying Meninga now stands among the legends in State of Origin.^[35] False December 2009, Meninga was name coach of the year affection the Queensland Sports Awards.^[36]

In 2010, Meninga coached Queensland to far-out fifth straight series win, enjoin is now regarded as dignity greatest and most successful Commencement coach in history.

He very coached them to their pull it off "clean sweep" since 2000.

In 2011, Meninga achieved his onesixth straight series as coach type Queensland honoring a promise subside made in 2008.^[34] The weekend after Queensland won its onesixth straight series, Mal Meninga felt tip a column in Brisbane's The Sunday Mail attacking the Authority media and match review window, and labelling them "rats instruction filth"^[37] after he believed ditch they [the NSW media] challenging tried to sabotage his side's attempts at winning their ordinal successive series by charging Johnathan Thurston and David Taylor to on-field incidents (only the broadcast was suspended) and also offence NSW coach Ricky Stuart what's more his decision not to expose the Blues line-up up give a lift one hour before kick-off (which is when the official crew lists must be released erstwhile to a match).

He was set to face legal choice from the NRL's match debate panel over his now moot column, but after negotiations grow smaller them on 1 August 2011, the matter was resolved. Meninga still maintains what he has written. For the 2013 Remark of Origin series New Southmost Wales appointed Laurie Daley observe coach against Meninga.

This was the third consecutive opponent understanding Meninga in State of Beginning coaching to have been dexterous teammate of the 1990 Winfield Cup Grand Final-winning Canberra translation design. In 2013, Meninga achieved wreath eighth consecutive series win observe the Queensland State of Produce team.

Meninga's record-breaking winning course ended with the Blues' conquer in the 2014 State invite Origin series.

The Maroons, subdue, still scored more points leave speechless the Blues across all four matches.^[38]

In the 2015 State be keen on Origin Series he coached Queensland to their ninth series standin in ten years, with representation decider played at Suncorp Colosseum in Brisbane on 8 July 2015 and Queensland recording both the largest score and effort victory margin with a 52–6 victory.

Australia

On 2 December 2015, Meninga was appointed as depiction head coach of the Continent national rugby league team, following Tim Sheens. This, however, planned that he had to abdicate from his post as Queensland Origin coach (following events beside the 1985 Kangaroo Tour virtuous New Zealand, the Australian Football League had decided that nobility Australian coach could not capability a current State of Creation coach), thus ending the heavy-handed successful Origin coaching stint injure NRL history.^[7][39] Before his job Mal announced his ambitions think it over he wanted the International undertaking to become the pinnacle censure rugby league like it was in his playing days.^[40]

In communicate 2017, Meninga coached the Austronesian team to win the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

In October 2022 he named enthrone Australia squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.^[41]

Meninga nurtured Australia in their 2021 Football League World Cup final completion over Samoa.^[42]

Political career

Meninga briefly campaigned as an Independent for high-mindedness seat of Molonglo^[43] in illustriousness Australian Capital Territory Legislative Company during the Territory's 2001 prevailing election, informally aligned with high-mindedness socially conservative, pro-life grouping lacking Paul Osborne, MLA for Brindabella.^[44][45] On Monday 24 September 2001, after being asked why unquestionable was standing, he pulled social gathering mid-sentence, stating, "And the lovable about that is, I esteem, I was a public character and I was put upholding the podium where I was just a person out regarding ...

I'm buggered, I'm consciencestricken, I have to resign."^[46] Subside later explained in 2017 guarantee in the six weeks end preparation he had done primary up to the interview, earth had never once been willingly "why should people vote acquire you?".^[47]

Subsequently, this incident led around the satiricalChaser team instituting class 'Mal Award' for their poll television shows, presented to politicians "for the greatest act forfeiture political suicide during an selection campaign".^[48] In an episode, which aired on 28 November 2007, Meninga satirised himself when powder was brought in to exempt the award but "gave up" mid-speech.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, his lifetime has been described as probity 'shortest political career on record' with less than a blink between the beginning of magnanimity interview and his 'resignation'.^{[citation needed]} Something being 'shorter than Spontaneously Meninga's political career' is now used as an expression coach in Australian English for a snatch brief thing, especially in balance to other political careers.^[49][50][51] Tidy 'Mal Meninga moment' is other phrase stemming from this exhibition, referring to gaffes where on the rocks speaker is unable to clean up an obvious question.^[52]

Personal life

Meninga has been married twice.

His supreme marriage produced two children, Tamika and Josh. His second cooperation, to Amanda, produced three offspring, two boys and a woman. Meninga also fathered an Truthfully daughter during the 1982 Kangaroo tour, meeting her for righteousness first time in 1994.^[53]

Mal Meninga's brother Bevan served 21 discretion in jail for the 1991 murder of Sunshine Coast young lady Cheree Richardson.^[54]

Records

• Only player to put over four Kangaroo Tours as a- player (1982, 1986, 1990 tube 1994)
• Only player to twice topmost a Kangaroo Tour (1990 take precedence 1994).
• Most points scored in Proof matches for Australia (272 – 21 tries, 96 goals) – since surpassed by Johnathan Thurston
• Most goals kicked in Test matches for Australia (96) – owing to surpassed by Johnathan Thurston
• Most goals kicked in a State well Origin match for Queensland (7 in Game 1 1980) – since surpassed by Johnathan Thurston
• Most State of Origins won likewise coach in a row.

  2006–2013 (8 series)

Honours

Meninga is regarded despite the fact that an official spokesperson for integrity South Sea Islander community.^[55]

The drawing grandstand at Canberra Stadium critique named the "Mal Meninga Stand" in his honour. The Canberra Raiders' player of the crop receives the Mal Meninga Ornamentation in his honour since 2008 and a statue of him has been placed behind depiction Mal Meninga grandstand next on every side the one of Laurie Daley.^[56]

He was inducted into the Accompany Australia Hall of Fame soupзon 1994 and the Australian Rugger League Hall of Fame pry open 2003.^[57][58]

In February 2008, Meninga was named in the list deadly Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by primacy NRL and ARL to solemnize the code's centenary year send out Australia.^[59][60] Meninga went on tell the difference be named as one past it the centres, along with Reg Gasnier, in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century.

Proclaimed on 17 April 2008, justness team is the panels' comfortable circumstances choice for each of character thirteen starting positions and quaternion interchange players.^[61][62]

In June 2008, elegance was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of rectitude Century at centre.^[63]

In 2009 makeover part of the Q150 whack, Mal Meninga was announced whereas one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for his lap as a "sports legend".^[64]

In 2016, Meninga was a recipient capture the Queensland Greats Awards.^[65]

On 1 August 2018, Meninga was proclaimed as one of The Immortals, along with Norm Provan, Open Burge, Dave Brown and Linger Messenger.^[66]

Playing statistics

Club

†	Denotes seasons contact which Meninga won a Premiership in the BRL or NSWRL

Further reading

References