Record Breaking Player and Coach
Mal Meninga’s involvement in Rugby League at the top level, as a player who achieved every major honour and as a record breaking coach spans a period of more than 35 years.
Meninga was born in Bundaberg, Queensland on 8 July 1960. Upon his retirement as a player in 1994, he held the record for the most number of appearances and points scored for the Australian team and was the leading points scorer for the Queensland State of Origin side. As coach of the Queensland Maroons from 2006-13, Meninga delivered a record 8 consecutive Origin series wins.
His record as a player included:
158 first grade games for the South Brisbane Magpies (1979-85)
166 first grade games for the Canberra Raiders (1986-94)
31 first grade games for St. Helens (UK 1984-85)
2 BRL premierships with South Brisbane Magpies (1981 and 1985)
3 NSWRL premierships as captain of the Canberra Raiders Magpies (1989, 1990 and 1994)
32 State of Origin games for Queensland (1980 -94) – 9 as captain
10 interstate and other games for Queensland (1979 – 85)
46 Tests for Australia (1982-94) – 24 as captain
The only player to have been selected for 4 Kangaroos tours to Great Britain – 2 as captain
His record as a coach includes:
125 games with the Canberra Raiders (1997-2001)
30 games with the Queensland State of Origin team including a record 8 consecutive series wins (2006-13)
8 games with the Prime Minister’s XIII (2005-12)
He holds the following honours:
- Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of services to Rugby League (1994)
- Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame (2003)
- South Brisbane Magpies, Queensland Rugby League and Australian Rugby League Team of the Century (2008) and Canberra Raiders Greatest Team (2013).
