Mal Meninga has admitted he sees red flags around the South Sydney coaching job, concerned about the way the Jason Demetriou situation has been handled.
With pressure growing on Demetriou, Meninga has made no secret of the fact he is interested in the Rabbitohs role on an interim basis, if it becomes available.
The Kangaroos coach will head to Vanuatu on a family holiday this week, and has indicated he will weigh up his options while overseas.
He and the Rabbitohs have denied there has been any official approach, however it is apparent the Canberra legend has been sounded out by a third party.
But in the hours before South Sydney’s gutsy 34-22 loss to Cronulla on Saturday night, Meninga was beginning to raise concerns.
He questioned a perceived lack of support for Demetriou and clarity around his future, after the coach’s 27-second press conference on Friday.
“That’s a red flag for me as well, if no one’s willing to step up and talk on behalf of the club and (say) exactly what’s happening, particularly with Jason,” Meninga said on Fox League.
“That to me is a sign that you maybe shouldn’t get involved with the club.”
Meninga also admitted concerns about his name being leaked as a potential option, and said he had sympathy for the Rabbitohs mentor.
“I haven’t been approached and all of a sudden my name is associated with the story,” he said.
“That sends some poor signals from somewhere. Is it the board or whatever?”
Meninga said if he did take over from Demetriou as interim boss, he would be headed to Souths with an eye on winning a premiership.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
But he is adamant any change would not come at the expense of his Kangaroos job, and that he would not take on the Souths role if the ARL Commission did not allow him to do both.
“It hasn’t got to that (discussion), but if it comes to that Kangaroos duties are first and foremost in my mind,” Meninga said.
“I want to go to a third World Cup … so if it’s going to impinge on me coaching the Australian side, it’s a big fat no from me.”
Meninga suggested the option was weighing heavily on his mind.
“You’ve got to do it for the right reasons. You don’t do it for the money in it, prestige or as an ego-driven thing,” he said.
“It’s more, ‘Can I do it, and do I want to do it? And can I do the best I possibly can?’. If I’m going to do the job, I want them to win a premiership.”
Meninga’s comments came as Benji Marshall revealed on Saturday he had reached out to Demetriou to offer support.
The Tigers coach played under then-assistant Demetriou at St George Illawarra, Brisbane and South Sydney.
“I reached out to him, sent him a message to make sure he was OK, but he’ll be OK,” Marshall said.
“He’s a very smart guy, when it comes to coaching.”
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, assuming the club is the one to have reached out to Meninga and not the other way round, I don't have a problem with his responding. But all his public comments about it have been disrespectful to Demetriou. And have contributed to the overall destabilisation of Demetriou (and the club in general). He's experienced enough to know better.
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
They sure do mate. It’s who they play for when they can’t make the Australian team. The Australian team who Meninga coaches which is a hell of alot easier than being an NRL coach… This is what the article is about Robbie.. stop being such a defensive RL fan.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil ... No. One. [wait for it ...] Cares.
Phil Browne
Roar Rookie
Red Rob how many of those "Samoans" were born and bred in Australia?
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
If he only wants interim, why did he say his primary goal is to take them to a premiership? That is what I am struggling to understand my friend. I think it was after the last game yesterday he said that on Fox. I hope you get it sorted, I know all about being down the ladder.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
This story about Mal is a red herring. An example of manufacturing a story where there is none. A typical example of sensationalist journalism just to get clicks. Trust me, I have watched every interview available where Mal Meninga has commented on this. On FOX Sports but also online podcast interviews. Meninga made it clear he WANTS the job of interim coach but not an ongoing head coaching role in the NRL beyond that and only if there is no barriers to him coaching the Australian national team during that interim period. There should be no problem there. Meninga did say there 'red flags' about how this affair has been handled at Souths but made that comment in reference to anyone contemplating taking on the permanent head coaching role SHOULD things remain unchanged further up the line at Rabbitohs HQ. Meninga then went on to say to Cooper Cronk "You never say no to anything without thinking about it first. Of course, you have to consider any offer. It would suit me, the role. I'm interested." At the end of the game Meninga said he felt awkward talking about it because his name had been linked to Souths, that no one from Souths had spoken to him. If Meninga wasn't interested he could have added but I'm not interested in the role. But he didn't say that. He left the door wide open.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Maybe because Meninga pulled out?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Breaking News, Tony... FOX Sports headline: South Sydney spare embattled fire coach in shock backdown ... for now The ONLY thing that made last night bearable was the prospect of immediate change. Souths have stuffed their 2024 season now. There will be no recovery from this point. The mountain will be too hard to climb and Dumbo Big Ears will put Latrell back to FB when he returns after Souths get annihilated by the Storm and the Panthers. Souths CEO Blake solly has to go!
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
That's why McGuire is the man For the job...lot better than his post flag years....he could keep being coach of the Blues if the squad is selected by others...Freddie coached the Blues and he was deeply in love /bed with the Roosters and Panthers!!!
Tony
Roar Guru
Either that or in the instructions for Vaseline
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah I know :happy: But even some of the non-tro.ll rugby posters seem intent on (t)rolling it out every time league is mentioned. I suspect it’s printed on the back of the Metamucil bottle :silly:
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
What conflicts with the "caretaker" yarn is Meninga stating his primary goal in accepting the job would be to take Souths to a premiership? Wondering if Wayne held up the middle finger and they're talking to Mal about full time?
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
It was Souths in-house journalists, they could have conducted Q & A themselves with a papier mache Demetriou puppet.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Christo, I think we’re on a similar page, but maybe not the same page. I don’t think Mal is trying to bring JD down, and I think that’s a done deal one way or another now anyway, but his comments sounded more like “yeah, I’m interested, here’s my terms, and I’m still not committing based solely on you meeting these terms, so you’ll have to make it a very sweet deal” message to the Bunnies. A sort of, not so discrete, indirect contract negotiation. I also didn’t like his criticism of the club/the leaks etc. whilst in the process confirming it all, and possibly adding info. to so publicly. 2 wrongs, Mal, and how do you think JD is feeling about it?
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Victoria makes it to the very bottom corner of the east coast of the main island, so he's claiming the south east coast for AFL, well they do have four teams in NSW & Qld.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
Kiwis won the last test under Maguire who they then promptly sacked as he got the Blues gig.
Tony
Roar Guru
It's a troll
SPM
Roar Rookie
Once again the administration of the club is affecting the football of the club or as my mentor used to say to me the tail wagging the dog.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
It’s the tired old “league isn’t as international as rugby/soccer” routine. I am yet to join the dots to why any league fan should give a rats.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Not a lot