THE DREAM TEAM
THE Queensland Rugby League wants Mal Meninga to form a coaching dream team with Billy Slater.
It’s understood the QRL has reached out to ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys to gauge whether Meninga would be allowed to combine his Kangaroos coaching duties with a Maroons mentoring role, providing a sounding board to Slater and other aspiring coaches.
Meninga is understood to be keen on the role, although he will need to convince V’landys that it will not conflict with his position with the Australian team.
Meninga is the most successful coach in Origin history, having won 67 per cent of his games in charge of the Maroons over a 10-year period when Queensland dominated the interstate arena.
He returned for a cameo last year as part of Wayne Bennett’s coaching team as Queensland scored an unexpected and unlikely series win.
However, defeat in this year’s series has prompted change, resulting in the departure of Paul Green and a plan for Queensland to hand the reins to Slater.
The Maroons are cognisant of the need for Slater, as well as their other emerging coaches, to have an experienced figure to bounce ideas off.
They have arrived at Meninga, a legend who commands huge respect among Queensland officials and supporters.
Meninga also has a longstanding relationship with Slater – he coached him for
Queensland and Australia.
QRL director Darryl Van de Velde declined to comment on Slater’s prospects of landing the coaching role, but said Queensland hierarchy must have a mentoring program to develop a new wave of Maroons coaches.
“It’s important for State of Origin that we develop the next generation of coaches,” he said.
“It was embarrassing what happened last year, we were well beaten, and we need some mentoring for our coaches from people who understand the culture of Queensland in the Origin arena.
“That knowledge can’t be lost on us because it has kept us in the hunt for a long time against NSW.”
It is understood negotiations with Slater will continue but there is a confidence among Queensland officialdom that he will take charge of the Maroons next season.
While he has never been a head coach, Slater’s tactical acumen is well respected in Melbourne, where he has helped assistant coach Marc Brentnall sharpen their attack.