Rugby league legend Mal Meninga hopes his return to Canberra can help dispel some negative stereotypes about living in the nation’s capital.
Meninga will serve as a mentor at the club he won three premierships with, helping out across recruitment and retention, pathways development and as a brand ambassador, the Raiders announced on Wednesday.
Already living in Canberra and having maintained a close bond with former teammate and current coach Ricky Stuart, the Immortal said it was a no-brainer to take the role when CEO Don Furner called him up.
“It’s a very exciting time I think for the club,” he said.
“It really is a very good young roster, and I look forward to being around and helping out in any way I can.
“Something that you get out of being here and being part of this club is that you’re never forgotten, which is really important. History plays a really important part in the DNA of this club.”
Raiders figures have long felt they face a harder task selling the club to potential recruits than their counterparts in Sydney.
But Meninga’s status within the game is hoped to be an additional drawcard, with players Tom Starling and Joseph Tapine speaking glowingly of the big man’s “aura”.
Meninga thinks the anti-Canberra agenda is misguided, and if players would only give the town a chance they would quickly change their tune.
“When I was growing up, I never thought I’d live in Canberra,” the Queenslander said.
“But Canberra’s one of those spots I’ve loved being at. It’s a great place to bring up kids, it’s a great place from a quality of life point of view and I really enjoy being here.
“There’s that psyche around cold and what Canberra is from a DNA point of view, with the public servants and the politicians. That’s the way the media talks about it; Canberra this and Canberra that – all the wrong reasons.
“But I came here to play rugby league and I fell in love with the city.”
Meninga had previously held a role as a high performance consultant at Gold Coast but left the club earlier this year.
Furner said Meninga would have no issues juggling his new “wide-ranging” role at the club with his existing commitments as head coach of the Kangaroos and with broadcaster Fox Sports.
“Mal’s a Raider, he really does love the club,” Furner said.
“It’s the only club he ever played for and just to have him back will be phenomenal for us and the coaching staff.”
Meninga played 166 games with the Raiders between 1986 and 1994, including six years as captain, before returning to the club as head coach from 1997 to 2001.
By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra
