Rugby League Immortal Mal Meninga has been appointed Head Coach of NRL expansion team Perth Bears.
Meninga has been appointed to be Bears Coach ahead of and through the Club's inaugural season in 2027, vacating the position of Kangaroos Head Coach which he has held since 2016.
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Peter V'landys AM said Meninga was an obvious choice to lead the expansion team in its formative years and congratulated him on his eight years in charge of the Kangaroos.
"There are very few who have graced our game who can match Mal Meninga's record of success, and we are delighted to announce that Mal will be the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears for their entry into the NRL in 2027," Mr V'landys said.
"Mal is the ideal man to lead the game to a new frontier in Western Australia. The esteem in which he is held in the sport, his experience and the success he has had at every level of the game as a player and coach will ensure the Perth Bears have exceptionally strong leadership to build their organisation.
"On behalf of the Commission, I congratulate Mal on his appointment and thank him for his wonderful contribution as Kangaroos Coach. Mal leaves the Kangaroos program in tremendous shape and now takes on a vital role for the progression of the sport domestically."
Meninga said he was excited by the challenge of returning to a full-time NRL coaching role and establishing the new expansion outfit ahead of its inaugural campaign in 2027.
"Personally, this is one of the most exciting challenges of my career, to have the opportunity to take our great game back to Western Australia to start a new team and to bring with it a much-loved rugby league community and heritage brand in the Bears," Mr Meninga said.
"It's a great privilege and responsibility I've been given to be one of the leaders in the formation of the club and I'm looking forward getting to stuck into the work that needs to be done to deliver a team that represents WA and is competitive from day one."
Perth Bears CEO Anthony De Ceglie said Meninga's leadership and experience would give the organisation a strong platform to build its culture and identity.
"We're extremely honoured that Mal has signed on to become the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears," Mr De Ceglie said.
"Mal is not just an Immortal of the NRL but an immortal of the Australian sporting landscape.
"He is an icon whose leadership qualities such as courage, honesty and hard work are rightly renowned across the country and make him the perfect coach to build a brand new team from the ground up.
"I'm sure NRL fans in Perth and in North Sydney will join me in welcoming him with open arms."
Meninga is one of the most decorated players and coaches in the history of the game, having coached Canberra Raiders (1997-2001) and Queensland (2006-2015), while previously playing 46 Test and World Cup matches for the Kangaroos, 32 State of Origin matches for Queensland and captaining the Raiders to three Premierships.
Prior to becoming Kangaroos Coach in 2016, Meninga steered the Maroons to their the most successful period in State of Origin history, winning nine of his 10 series in charge.
