As Rugby Australia begins the process of hiring its next Wallabies coach, former boss Michael Cheika has reiterated his stance that he won’t be rushing into his next move while also pouring cold water on the idea that he is about to cross-code permanently.
Cheika, 56, was last week once again linked to joining the West Tigers as their new general manager of football.
But the well-travelled coach, who led Los Pumas to last month’s World Cup semi-finals, said on-the-ground coaching still held greater appeal than overseeing a program.
“I know it’s been bandied around that they’re looking for some solutions in their management role,” Cheika told SEN.
“But if I was to ever go down that road, I think it would be more to test myself as a coach more than anything. I think to try and master that challenge would be awesome.”
That shouldn’t come as a surprise given his brief tenure as NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu director of rugby.
As The Roar revealed earlier this year, Cheika called time on his association with the club after falling out of favour with the club. It came after spending just 36 days with the club.
Michael Cheika shakes hands with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in July. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The dramatic departure of Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach one season into his five-year deal has seen Cheika’s name suddenly catapult back into the reckoning as a potential candidate.
While new Leicester Tigers coach Dan McKellar and Brumbies mentor Stephen Larkham are other Australian alternatives, Cheika, who coached the Wallabies between 2014 and 2019, has the international experience to be considered for Australia’s rebuild job.
But the experienced coach said he wouldn’t be lobbying for any other roles until he meets with Argentina to determine if he or his assistant, Felipe Contepomi, would lead Los Pumas forward.
“When I was the coach in Australia, I was very loyal and that’s my go,” Cheika said.
“I’m very loyal to what’s happening between me and Argentina – that’s my first port of call.
“I’ll go down there in a couple of weeks, and we’ll have a full debrief of what we did and then start making plans for the next World Cup. And then also decide what I’m going to do moving forward.
“The original arrangement was that a young fella who I coached at length – Felipe Contepomi – he’s the guy who is going to take over at some stage.
“We’ll make a decision together on whether they think it’s good for me to stay on in that environment or does he want to go on his own.”
Cheika, who led Lebanon to the 2022 Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals and then returned in time to lead Los Pumas to a historic win over England at Twickenham a week later last year, said he hoped to be involved in both the league (2026) and rugby (2027) World Cups in Australia.
“I’m still on with the (Lebanon) Cedars and there’s a World Cup that will be in Australia, I think, in 2026 before the Rugby World Cup in 2027. I’m looking forward to being involved in both of those – one way or another,” he said.
Michael Hooper (L) of the Waratahs and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
As for the current Australian rugby landscape, Cheika, who has previously not wanted to critique the Wallabies’ miserable 2023 campaign, said Rugby Australia needed to ensure they invested in Super Rugby as much as the national level.
“I do believe that coaching at Super Rugby level is just as important as who is coaching the Wallabies team,” Cheika said.
“That is where the players are being prepared, that’s where it needs so much investment to make sure it’s going well…
“Hopefully, from this they’ll (RA) start to get a real understanding of the things that need attention to make the game, not just the Wallabies, get itself back on track. I am sure it will.
“I know there is a lot of negativity around but it will. Without taking anything for granted, we are getting to a regime of understanding what’s required. Have a good plan and good people around and treat those people well, then things can happen.
“Things can turn around, you have to hold course and have a course to go to. That will be the next step, setting the course going forward.”
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
All these articles show is how deep we are in scraping the barrel for the next coach. Not sure any quality candidate wants the job and there are also no succession plan.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
That is not why he resigned, that is you inflating something to back your own thoughts. Every country has supporters that let their emotions get the better of them, just like you and your post.
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Vern cotter
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Well it might be a good idea to have a word with your countrymen. Their trolling of Barnes has been so bad he has resigned.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Another narcissist from Randwick to replace the original clown is not worth consideration; and for all the reasons why Chieka was sacked last time. Chieka unhinged was there for all to see again post Puma’s exit. Adults only need apply moving forward.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Dusty, I think you named the top contender in Larkham who has all the traits and circumstances of McQueen except Bernie has already been a WB assistant & spent several years coaching o/s. This next evolution for the WB/RA set up will be three key appointments including head coach. The other two will be Director of Rugby and a replacement for Hamish (& potentially some of the board). After 10yrs as Dir of Rugby for IRE I think Nucifora should be considered for Chairman to work/mentor Waugh but with David he’ll need a new supportive board free of Hamish & Jones die hard supporters. For WB Dir of Rugby I’d favour Anderson or Schmidt, also for the reason of their experience in moving IRE to alignment.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Lol another Messiah :laughing:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Let's run in circles and give every coach a second chance until aru is bankrupt and sold to some foreign pe
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
And another: https://x.com/bbcrlsport/status/1720086371090800712?s=46
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Time to bring home the Messiah! Cheika is the only coach we have that could have a realistic chance of making and winning the 2027 World Cup for Australia. No Castle BS to get in his way this time.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Grea points JN, NZ has the same policy of not turning on the ref as you would only develop a negative relationship which would put you under the microscope. SA have come along way in terms of their discipline and should be respected for it, that is where I expect Razor to improve the ABs.
ShortBlind
Roar Rookie
Love McQueen and was at that 76-0 drubbing of England. In another thread I called for him and Bob Dwyer to be on an independent coach selection panel. Independent from Hamish that is. ????
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Exactly, Nienaber is always exemplary in post match interviews, always. He sets the standard, and gives the players an attitude to look up to. This is what drives success. Coaches who demand a “no excuses” policy from their players, but then don’t follow the policy themselves, well, what do you call that? It’s most certainly not close to anything the Wallabies need, that’s for certain. It only weakens the team. If a coach is too stubborn to learn anything from other coaches about how to conduct themselves, then go somewhere else. I actually remember a brief period of time when Cheika was coach, He seemed to go off the Diet Coke. His complexion cleared up and scribes noted how calm he was in the post match interview after a loss. Maybe caffeine revs him up and he can’t control his emotions. Who knows.
Take the Points
Roar Rookie
Cheika had a crack at refs constantly. He had his favourites and played them constantly even when losing, so much so that he needed a selection panel to select for him as he went rogue with selections. His attitude was terrible and this reflected on the players which you could see at press conferences they reflected Cheika. We just need a level headed coach in a similar mould to how Rennie ran things, no mind games
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
It’s a bit simplistic. The international and SRP tournaments overlap. The assistants also need to be specialists in their field (attack, defence, forwards, backs, scrum coach etc.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Sounds like Dave Rennie
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He was
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Probably our best ever coach, Rod Macqueen, had not coached at international level before being appointed Wallabies coach. He was a brilliant team leader and manager, he believed in collaborating with his senior players re: both longer term strategy and shorter term tactics, and he applied business principles to the concept of performance. The main thing; he was not a dictator. He made the decisions, yes, but like any good leader he generated a sense of ownership and belonging amongst his staff and players by tapping in to their brains. Everything was done for a well-justified reason. The only 'hail mary' decision I can recall under his tenure was switching Larkham from 15 to 10, and we know how that turned out (a 76 to 0 win over England, from memory). It wasn't really a hail mary at all, was it? Anyway, point is, we need to dispense with the autocracies of coaches like Cheika and Jones, and select a coach who can: a) think; b) manage, and; c) genuinely lead.
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
Really? Cheika? Again? Not really a tactical genius now was he. More of a man motivator, run through brick walls type guy. He’s not gonna get the team playing smart football and he’s not going to lay down a blueprint for developing better players. He got the Argies into the QFs which is where they should be and snagged a 50/50 game off the Welsh before being embarrassed by NZ. I dont think he got them playing above their natural level, not at all.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes Tim ...I was uncomfortable with his ref bashing post match despite the fact even my 85 year old mother could have seen England were the better team.......So why even do it ...as a matter of interest throughout this tournament SA Rugby took a policy decision that no matter what refs did they are off limits ....No criticisms permitted from either players or coaches and use the set structures to lodge complaints ...How smart was that ? ...extremely smart ..No question Boks got the rub of the green against France , England and NZ with borderline decisions ..Maybe ..just maybe refs felt appreciated by them. Quite a turnaround .