Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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WAYNE Bennett has slammed the search for Australia’s next Test coach as a “farce”, as Mal Meninga faces a potential $150,000 pay cut to preside over the Kangaroos.
Having been rubbed out of calculations for the Test post, Bennett on Tuesday lashed the ARL Commission over a process he believes is damaging the credibility of the Australian jumper.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Meninga’s existing QRL contract expires on November 30 _ effectively giving the Queensland coach 19 days to decide if he will walk away from the Maroons.
The ARLC has privately discussed hiring an interim Kangaroos coach for next year’s mid-season Test to allow Meninga one final campaign with his record-breaking Maroons.
But Bennett took aim at ARLC chairman John Grant as the super coach questioned how an interim coach can aid the governing body’s bid for Australia to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.
“This is a contradiction,” the veteran Broncos coach told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday.
“On one hand, the ARL Commission wants elitism, they want us (Australia) to be the best ... and on the other hand they are considering a stand-in coach that doesn’t epitomise what the best is about.
“Someone out there may put their hand up to coach Australia for one moment of glory, but it will make that Test match a farce.
“The credibility of the green-and-gold jumper is at stake.”
The ARLC’s blueprint for reform, released last week, precludes a club coach leading the national team, ruling out Bennett and Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy.
Meninga is the raging favourite for the Kangaroos post and he has formally expressed his interest in the job.
But there is a prevailing sentiment the Maroons coach should not be allowed to lead Queensland next season while an interim keeps the Test seat warm for him to occupy after the Origin series.
Critically, money, or a lack of it, shapes as a decisive factor.
The Courier-Mail understands the ARLC views the Kangaroos job as a two-and-a-half day position worth around $200,000 annually. Meninga earns an estimated $250,000 with the QRL and his new extension, currently on the table, is worth approximately $900,000 over three years.
That means the ARLC faces increasing their offer to Meninga _ or the Maroons coach accepting a six-figure downgrade to fulfil his ambition of coaching Australia.
D-Day is approaching for Meninga, who has been in talks with the QRL for the past three months over non-coaching elements of his new contract.
“Mal and I have agreed that we will have things sorted out by the end of the month, which is when his current agreement expires,” QRL boss Rob Moore said.
“I’m not getting into the debate about what happens (with the Test coaching job) because it’s not our decision.
“The ARLC will make those decisions. Until such time as a decision is made, we are working towards the next three years.
“It’s out of our control. Some decisions have to be made at a national level to be fair to Mal so he can make a decision himself first.”
An NRL spokesman on Tuesday night defended moves to potentially install an interim coach.
“We have to talk to the candidates, we’re nowhere near making a final decision,” he said.
“It’s not a fulltime job, the Australian coach won’t be expected to work 9 to 5 every day, but he is expected to dedicate himself to getting Australia back on top of the world rankings.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ia-coach-a-farce/story-fniabm4i-1227603829507
Having been rubbed out of calculations for the Test post, Bennett on Tuesday lashed the ARL Commission over a process he believes is damaging the credibility of the Australian jumper.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Meninga’s existing QRL contract expires on November 30 _ effectively giving the Queensland coach 19 days to decide if he will walk away from the Maroons.
The ARLC has privately discussed hiring an interim Kangaroos coach for next year’s mid-season Test to allow Meninga one final campaign with his record-breaking Maroons.
But Bennett took aim at ARLC chairman John Grant as the super coach questioned how an interim coach can aid the governing body’s bid for Australia to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.
“This is a contradiction,” the veteran Broncos coach told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday.
“On one hand, the ARL Commission wants elitism, they want us (Australia) to be the best ... and on the other hand they are considering a stand-in coach that doesn’t epitomise what the best is about.
“Someone out there may put their hand up to coach Australia for one moment of glory, but it will make that Test match a farce.
“The credibility of the green-and-gold jumper is at stake.”
The ARLC’s blueprint for reform, released last week, precludes a club coach leading the national team, ruling out Bennett and Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy.
Meninga is the raging favourite for the Kangaroos post and he has formally expressed his interest in the job.
But there is a prevailing sentiment the Maroons coach should not be allowed to lead Queensland next season while an interim keeps the Test seat warm for him to occupy after the Origin series.
Critically, money, or a lack of it, shapes as a decisive factor.
The Courier-Mail understands the ARLC views the Kangaroos job as a two-and-a-half day position worth around $200,000 annually. Meninga earns an estimated $250,000 with the QRL and his new extension, currently on the table, is worth approximately $900,000 over three years.
That means the ARLC faces increasing their offer to Meninga _ or the Maroons coach accepting a six-figure downgrade to fulfil his ambition of coaching Australia.
D-Day is approaching for Meninga, who has been in talks with the QRL for the past three months over non-coaching elements of his new contract.
“Mal and I have agreed that we will have things sorted out by the end of the month, which is when his current agreement expires,” QRL boss Rob Moore said.
“I’m not getting into the debate about what happens (with the Test coaching job) because it’s not our decision.
“The ARLC will make those decisions. Until such time as a decision is made, we are working towards the next three years.
“It’s out of our control. Some decisions have to be made at a national level to be fair to Mal so he can make a decision himself first.”
An NRL spokesman on Tuesday night defended moves to potentially install an interim coach.
“We have to talk to the candidates, we’re nowhere near making a final decision,” he said.
“It’s not a fulltime job, the Australian coach won’t be expected to work 9 to 5 every day, but he is expected to dedicate himself to getting Australia back on top of the world rankings.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ia-coach-a-farce/story-fniabm4i-1227603829507
