‘Highly looked’ trainer tipped to sign up for Mal’s Bears body of workers

Mal Meninga has reportedly earmarked an early front-runner to sign up for his training body of workers on the Perth Bears.

The 64-year-old used to be formally unveiled because the membership’s inaugural trainer final week and can step down from his function as Kangaroos boss.

Meninga hasn’t coached full-time to start with grade stage in smartly over twenty years and has stated his want for good enough help for the 2027 season and past.

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Matt King, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess have been all approached through the NRL to doubtlessly paintings along Meninga, however all 3 became down the chance.

Instead, in step with Nine’s Michael Chammas, present Panthers assistant and Samoa global trainer Ben Gardiner has been sounded out to sign up for Meninga.

“There’s conversations ongoing with Ben Gardiner – he’s won a couple of premierships under Ivan Cleary and he’s in the box seat to go over and work with Mal Meninga,” Chammas mentioned on 100% Footy on Monday evening.

“Ben Gardiner is one of those options and the Samoa link is something that will be important going forward. There’s talk that Payne Haas is going to be playing for Samoa and he’s had conversations with Ben Gardiner.

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“I’d believe as a recruitment software, if you have got any individual who’s trainer on the Panthers and training at Samoa, it’s going to lend a hand Mal Meninga.

“He’s highly regarded for what he knows off the field as well.”

Gardiner – who juggled training with college educating at Marcellin College Randwick for a few years – has been across the sport for a very long time and has labored at plenty of golf equipment together with the Rabbitohs and Tigers prior to shifting to Penrith.

He additionally frolicked operating with the New Zealand Kiwis at the training body of workers, prior to touchdown the pinnacle training function with Samoa two years in the past.

“He’s done a long apprenticeship,” Phil Gould mentioned.

“I think we brought him down as a player … he came down to the Roosters as a player and didn’t really make it, I think he might have had some injuries.

“He’s almost definitely been within the sport for 22 or 23 years round one of the very best coaches and very best methods. He is aware of his stuff, he is very very popular.”