CHEIKA AND HIS GOOD-LUCK CAT

EAGLE-EYED viewers may have noticed the small, golden, waving cat figurine over Michael Cheika’s shoulder in the coaching box in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The presence of the ornament got plenty of attention on social media, but despite the Japanese Manekineko’s reputation for bringing good luck to its owner, the coach insisted its presence had nothing to do with superstition.

“The coaches always go out during the week for a Chinese feed somewhere and there’s always one of these Maneki-neko in the background,” Cheika said.

“We’ve got a little collection brewing. We’re not superstitious in any way.

“They’ve been travelling with us for a bit now ... you just haven’t seen them,” Cheika said. “We’ll probably hide them again now you’ve seen them.”

Before Saturday’s game, Cheika openly wondered what would happen if he ordered a pizza to the coaching box and began eating it as the cameras focused in. You wouldn’t put it past him.